Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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57. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether delays in the launch of the renewable heat incentive has stalled developments in the biomass industry and makes it even more likely that Ireland will fail to meet its renewable heat targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41899/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The proposed Renewable Heat Incentive will incentivise commercial opportunities for renewable heat technologies including biomass boiler installations. In addition, the scheme will open up new opportunities for biomass feedstock producers. There has been significant progress to date in the use of biomass which, in 2015, provided the vast majority of the 6.5% of energy consumption in the heat sector that came from renewable sources.

The development of the Renewable Heat Incentive has involved detailed economic analysis, extensive engagement with industry and two public consultations. The most recent of these consultations took place earlier this year and over 100 submissions were received. It is vital that views of stakeholders and the lessons learned in other jurisdictions are integrated into the design of the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive. In particular, I intend the scheme to include eligibility criteria and budgetary controls in order to manage the overall costs and maintain value for money for taxpayers.

The scheme has a key role to play in contributing to meeting our 2020 renewable energy targets. It is therefore vital that the Renewable Heat Incentive is in place well in advance of 2020 in order to ensure projects are in operation in 2020 thus contributing to meeting our targets.

I will seek Government approval for the scheme shortly. Following this approval, it will be necessary to seek European Commission State Aid approval in advance of the scheme commencing in 2018.