Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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537. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if additional incentives will be introduced to encourage the production of biofuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15348/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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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, with the latter target also being legally binding.

In the transport sector, Ireland aims to meet its renewable target mainly through the increased use of sustainable biofuels, with electric vehicles also making a small contribution.

The Biofuels Obligation Scheme was introduced in July 2010 as the primary means through which Ireland would meet the transport target and is the principal support for the uptake of biofuels in Ireland.  The scheme works by obligating road transport fuel suppliers to bring increasing amounts of biofuel to the transport fuel market. An increase to the obligation rate in the scheme took effect from 1 January 2017 when the rate increased from 6% to 8% by volume. I intend to publish a consultation later this year to examine the potential for further phased increases to the Biofuels Obligation Scheme.  These increases to the biofuels obligation rate on a phased basis will create increasing demand for biofuels and opportunities for their production.

In accordance with the commitment in the Programme for Government, my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport have established and are co-chairing a Low Emissions Vehicles (LEV) Task Force involving relevant Government Departments and agencies. The work of the task force has been divided into two phases. The first phase is focusing solely on Electric Vehicles with the second phase focusing on all other alternative fuels.

The Task Force will report on an interim basis to Government on the first phase by June 2017.