Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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25. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the degree to which policy is being finalised in respect of ongoing measures required to reduce dependency on fossil fuels by way of various replacements; if he is satisfied that the progress to date in this regard will sufficiently reduce Ireland’s dependency on fossil fuels; if the full extent of reliance on wind energy has been determined along with other renewable sources of energy and keeping in mind the need to maintain carbon reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10499/15]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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The overarching objective of Ireland's energy policy is to ensure secure, sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. As a State we have ambitious targets for 16% of our energy from renewable sources by 2020 through meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources, with 10% renewables in transport and 12% in heat. In 2013, 7.8% of Ireland’s overall energy requirement was met by renewable energy. Policies and schemes are in place to incentivise the use of renewable energy. The REFIT schemes underpin the development of a range of renewable electricity technologies, including hydro, biomass combustion, biomass combined heat and power, landfill gas and onshore wind. To date wind energy has been the largest driver of growth in renewable electricity. The total amount of renewable generation connected to the grid is 2500 MW of which 2,200 MW is wind. It is estimated that between 3,500 and 4,500 MW of onshore renewable generation capacity will be required to allow Ireland to meet its 40% renewable electricity target.

Part L of the Building Regulations supports the uptake of renewable heat. The Draft Bioenergy Plan, which I published last year, recommends the introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive for larger heat users to change to heating solutions that produce heat from renewable sources. Additionally, the Biofuels Obligation Scheme and grant support for the purchase of electric vehicles underpin the deployment of renewable energy in the transport sector.

In 2014, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) published a report on Quantifying Ireland’s Fuel and CO2 Emissions Savings from Renewable Electricity in 2012, which found that wind generation displaced an estimated 586 kilo tonnes of oil equivalent of fossil fuels, valued at €177 million, with a consequent carbon dioxide saving of 1.51 million tonnes, valued at €11million.