Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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220. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for rolling out grant aided biomass heating systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19021/15]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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221. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if biomass heating systems that have been installed by now will be eligible for retroactive grant aid through any future scheme that may be rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19022/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 and 221 together.

Analysis underpinning the Draft Bioenergy Plan, published in October last year, indicates 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 including addressing the potential shortfall in our renewable heat levels. Therefore, the draft Plan recommends the introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in 2016 to incentivise larger heat users in the industrial and commercial sector 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. In this regard the first stage of the public consultation process will commence shortly to examine options in relation to the technologies to be supported including establishing the date from which a renewable heating installation could be eligible for support under the scheme. 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.