Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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580. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding grants for boilers burning woods (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3923/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Draft Bioenergy Plan was published in October and will undergo Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments which will inform the content of the finalised Plan. These assessment processes will commence shortly.

Analysis underpinning the draft Plan is that an additional bioenergy-focussed measure in the heat sector would represent the most cost effective means of meeting a number of different policy goals. Therefore, the draft Plan recommends the introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for larger heat users to change to heating solutions that produce heat from renewable sources, including wood pellets and other biomass. 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 uptake of renewable heat is also supported through Part L of the Building Regulations. Furthermore, the planned reviews of these regulations, for buildings other than dwellings, to achieve Nearly Zero Energy Buildings status, are also expected to result in increasing the uptake of renewable heat from a range of sources including biomass.

The Better Energy Homes scheme, operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), provides grants towards improving the energy efficiency of residential heating through upgrades of boilers, heating control upgrades and the installation of solar heating. The scheme does not provide grant support for biomass heating systems.