Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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134. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a renewable heat incentive will be introduced for renewable energy this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4036/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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In October last year, 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.

The 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.

The terms and conditions of the RHI, including those relating to support tariffs and eligible technologies, will be established during the process of designing the scheme which is due to commence later this year. 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.