Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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56. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the proposed renewable heat incentive scheme; the date by which this scheme will become operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21830/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a commitment in the White Paper on Energy and the 2016 Programme for Government and will be the primary support mechanism in the heating sector designed to meet Ireland’s renewable energy obligations. The aim of the RHI is to build on the progress already made in the renewable heating sector and to help reach Ireland’s 12% target by 2020. In 2015, 6.5% of heat was derived from renewable sources in Ireland. 

The final public consultation on the design and implementation of the new RHI closed in March 2017, and all 119 submissions are currently being reviewed by my Department. The findings from this public consultation will be used to help inform the final design of the scheme. Once this review process is complete the final cost and design of the RHI will need Government and State Aid approval.

I hope to be in a position to announce the details of the new scheme by the end of the year.