Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

544. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will commit to developing and promoting renewable energy and promote conservation as a priority and move away from any potential focus on fracking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44221/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government is committed to developing and promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy as part of a secure, sustainable and competitive energy mix. The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. In order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heating and 10% of transport power from renewable sources.

There are significant policies in place to incentivise the increased use of renewable energy, including the REFIT schemes, the Biofuels Obligation and grant support for the purchase of electric vehicles. Furthermore, the recently published Draft Bioenergy Plan recommends the introduction from 2016 of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for larger heat users to change to heating solutions that produce heat from renewable sources.

In addition, there are a number of energy efficiency schemes administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to assist business and domestic energy consumers achieve energy savings with significant funding allocated to these schemes.

With regard to unconventional gas exploration and exploitation (UGEE), a decision as to whether it can be undertaken in Ireland cannot be reached until the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) research programme on the potential environmental impacts of UGEE has been completed. The final report arising from this research programme is not anticipated before 2016 at the earliest.