Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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28. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress of the commitment in the second national energy efficiency action plan to implement a wide-ranging programme to investigate the opportunities and policy options for the micro-generation of electricity via small scale technologies. [47278/14]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the need to give further policy consideration to the place of microgeneration in our energy mix. Analysis of the potential of micro-generation technologies such as small scale wind, solar and small scale hydro, has been carried out for my Department by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. It shows that while microgeneration has the technical potential to make a significant contribution to Irish electricity consumption, careful consideration would have to be given to the design of any potential future support scheme to ensure it is cost-effective. The SEAI's findings, along with responses to the recent consultation on the Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland, will inform future policy on the provision of any market support for micro-generation.

The National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) is the overarching policy framework for energy efficiency in Ireland and reaffirms Ireland’s commitment to a 20% energy savings target across the economy by 2020. The action referred to by the Deputy, action number 31 from NEEAP2, was reviewed during the preparation of the third NEEAP which was updated and published in May 2014. The third NEEAP is available on my department’s website.