Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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535. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to explain the percentage of energy supplied from biomass resources here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44087/14]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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536. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to set out his views on whether biomass energy will form part of renewable energy targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44088/14]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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538. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the State has the capability to supply the necessary natural resources to provide a sustainable supply of biomass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44090/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 535, 536 and 538 together.

The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable sources of energy. In 2013, 7.8% of Ireland’s overall energy requirements were met from renewable sources, with energy from biomass accounting for 3.2%. Biomass is expected to contribute up to half of the 2020 renewable energy targets, both here and in the EU as a whole.

Last month I published a Draft Bioenergy Plan which is available on my Department’s website (). The draft Plan will undergo Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments, including public consultation, which will inform the content of the finalised Plan. These assessment processes will commence shortly.

The draft plan recommends the continuation of the REFIT schemes and the Biofuels Obligation Scheme. Furthermore, the analysis underpinning the plan is that an additional bioenergy-focused measure in the heat sector represents the most cost effective means of meeting a number of different policy goals. Therefore, the plan also recommends the introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for larger heat users to change to heating solutions that produce heat from renewable sources. The RHI scheme, once designed, will require State Aid approval from the European Commission and further Government approval. It is proposed to have the scheme in place in 2016.

The draft Plan recognises that, although Ireland will remain a net importer of biofuels in the transport sector, meeting demand for biomass from indigenous sources could deliver significant economic benefits. Consequently, the draft plan also contains measures to stimulate and support the supply of Irish biomass. In this regard, the key recommendations include: the continued support for the Afforestation Programme; the continuation of the Bioenergy Scheme for energy crops; and the establishment of Bioenergy Ireland, a joint venture between Bord na Móna and Coillte.

Furthermore, in terms of developing new sources of biomass, the draft Plan provides that the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government will endeavour to optimise the availability of waste for energy and that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will continue its support for innovative energy uses for animal by-products.