Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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146. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which he continues to explore the development of biofuels and the reduction of carbon emissions in line with previously identified targets and at the same time ensuring the protection of the highly productive and carbon-efficient beef and dairy sectors which continue to be of major benefit to the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35093/20]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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245. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent of development and research in biofuels with a view to utilisation as a replacement for fossil fuels in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35416/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 245 together.

The Biofuels Obligation Scheme is the principal policy measure used to support the uptake of biofuels and other forms of bioenergy in the transport sector. The scheme, which was introduced in 2010, requires fuel suppliers in the road transport sector to ensure a certain proportion of all fuel supplied is from renewable sources. The biofuel obligation was increased from 10% by volume to 11% by volume from 1st January 2020.

In September 2019, a public consultation was launched on the development of the Biofuels Obligation Scheme in the period of 2021 to 2030.  This consultation closed in November 2019 and 42 responses were received.  I expect to publish shortly a policy statement which will set out my plans for biofuels and other renewable transport fuels for the coming years.

While electric vehicles will make an increasing contribution to decarbonising the transport sector, I  fully expect biofuels and other renewable fuels to continue making significant contributions to our decarbonisation effort. I expect fuels such as Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO), which can be deployed in higher diesel blends and biomethane, which can be used as a substitute for natural gas to form part of our fuel mix over the course of this decade.  There is also much work being undertaken at domestic and EU level to develop renewable hydrogen and advanced biofuels for use in the energy sectors. 

In relation to Ireland's existing 2030 EU target to reduce greenhouse gases in the non-ETS sector by 30%, the Climate Action Plan 2019 sets out the policies and measures to achieve this, including setting an emissions reduction range for agriculture. The Government is committed to working with communities and sectors in designing and delivering a pathway to decarbonisation that is fair. Far reaching policy changes will de developed across every sector. For the agriculture sector, which includes beef and dairy, this includes:

- Building on Ireland's relative carbon efficiency in food production and ensuring the delivery of the measures identified by Teagasc to the fullest extent possible.

- Delivering an incremental and ambitious reduction in the use of inorganic nitrogen fertiliser through to 2030.

- Transforming the scale of organic farming, with delivery of a fair price for farmers at its heart.

- Introducing a transformational programme of research and development, to ensure Ireland is at the cutting edge of scientific and technological innovation, including in: the bioeconomy; marine sequestration; improving agriculture breeding programmes; feed additives to reduce biogenic methane; agroforestry, paludiculture; and nutrient management.

Land-use offers significant potential to sequester additional carbon and provide a new source of family farm income and rural economic benefit. The Programme for Government commits to evaluating, within 24 months, the potential contributions towards our climate ambition from land-use improvements and to set in train the development of a land-use plan, based on these findings.