Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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1048. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1146 of 21 March 2017 and 215 of 13 December 2017, when the strategic environmental assessment of the national bioenergy plan, which was drafted in 2014 and has remained in draft form since, will be published and put to public consultation; the reason for the disruption to the timeframe stated in the March 2017 reply; and the reason for the disruption to the timeframe stated in the December 2017 reply. [25697/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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There are a wide range of Government Departments, agencies and State bodies that are critical enablers for the development of bioenergy by virtue of their responsibility for areas such as forestry, agriculture, waste, research funding and business development. The draft Bioenergy Plan sets out the policy areas that must be coordinated to support the development of the bioenergy sector in Ireland. It identifies a range of supply-side and demand-side measures that are needed to release the full potential of the domestic biomass sector in Ireland.

Since the draft Bioenergy Plan was published in 2014, significant progress has been made in finalising the plan and on the actions set out under the plan.

Developments such as the publication of the Energy White Paper, the National Mitigation Plan and the National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy have provided an updated policy context. As a result the draft Bioenergy Plan is being updated to reflect these and other policy developments. An updated Strategic Environmental Assessment and NATURA Impact Statement are also currently being finalised. In parallel, progress continues in relation to the key actions set out under the plan.

In this regard, I have secured Government approval for the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat - a key demand-side measure. I expect the scheme to commence operation later this year subject to State Aid approval. The objective of the scheme is to increase the level of renewable energy and reduce emissions in the heat sector. By stimulating demand for renewable energy feedstock, such as biomass, the scheme will provide an opportunity for the growth of indigenous bioenergy production.

In addition, I recently published a Policy Statement outlining the future development of the Biofuels Obligation Scheme. The scheme has been the primary policy measure used to increase the share of renewable energy in the transport sector and has also made a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Policy Statement is intended to provide certainty to industry and stakeholders thus facilitating the longer term planning necessary to increase the use of biofuels. One of the actions is an increase in the Biofuel Obligation Rate to 10% by volume with effect from 1 January 2019.

Supply-side measures, such as support for bioenergy crops, come within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I would highlight the recent significant increase in supports under the Forestry for Fibre Scheme that were made as part of the mid-term review of the Forestry Programme. These supports will provide an increased incentive for those landowners considering planting forestry to supply the energy sector.

I expect the updated draft Bioenergy Plan and associated assessments to be published for public consultation this summer in order to finalise the plan later this year.