Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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1133. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources given that the quantity of bioenergy on the planet is inherently limited, the steps he has taken to ensure that energy planning for transition to a low-carbon society does not assume the unlimited availability of bioenergy. [37707/15]

Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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1134. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the policies he has in place, or is considering putting in place, to ensure bioenergy use is sustainable, both qualitatively and quantitatively. [37708/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1133 and 1134 together.

The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable sources of energy. In 2014, 8.6% of Ireland’s overall energy requirements were met from renewable sources, with energy from biomass accounting for 3.2%. Bioenergy is expected to contribute up to half of the 2020 renewable energy targets, both here in Ireland and in the EU as a whole.

In 2014, I published a Draft Bioenergy Plan which is available on my Department’s website. The draft Plan is currently undergoing Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments which will inform the content of the finalised Plan.

The draft Plan recognises that, although Ireland will remain a net importer of biofuels in the transport sector, meeting demand for solid biomass from indigenous sources could deliver significant economic benefits. Consequently, the draft plan also contains measures to stimulate and support the supply of Irish biomass. In this regard, the key recommendations include the continued support for the Afforestation Programme; the continuation of the Bioenergy Scheme for energy crops; and the establishment of Bioenergy Ireland, a joint venture between Bord na Mona and Coillte.

Furthermore, in terms of developing new sources of biomass, the draft Plan provides that the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government will endeavour to optimise the availability of waste for energy, and that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will continue its support for innovative energy uses for animal by-products.

In addition to its availability, the sustainability of biomass will continue to be a critical factor in the development of bioenergy policy, with liquid biofuels already having to meet certain strict sustainability criteria. The European Commission recently adopted a Directive which will limit the amount of certain crop based biofuels, whose use could lead to Indirect Land-Use Change (ILUC), that Member States can count towards renewable energy targets.