Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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768. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the delivery of a joint venture between Bord na Móna and Coillte to capture synergies in the bioenergy sector. [30495/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Bord na Móna and Coillte Teoranta continue to work together on areas of joint interest, in line with a Memorandum of Understanding that was agreed by the two companies in 2016. The two companies are co-operating closely in a number of areas including:

1. Indigenous biomass supply;

2. Regional tourism development; and

3. Wind energy.

Bord na Móna is working with a number of stakeholders, including Coillte, on the development of an indigenous biomass supply chain. It is envisaged that these will include sawmill residues from a number of sources, willow from local growers and pulpwood logs mainly supplied by Coillte.

Bord na Móna launched a new division named Bord na Móna BioEnergy in 2017, which aims to be the largest supplier of biomass in the State. Bord na Móna BioEnergy will be using agri crops (principally willow) and forestry by-products including thinnings, brash, pulpwood as the main sources of biomass material. This material is currently being sourced in Ireland and abroad. The company will continue to work with the farming community and State agencies to develop a willow growing industry.