Liz McManus
Question:40 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the steps, if any, she will take to encourage the greater production of heat and power from waste; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18917/97]
Written Answers. - Waste Energy.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:57 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has responded to the request by DG16 of the European Commission for additional information regarding the proposed waste to energy generation plant at Godamendy, Ballycoolin, County Dublin; when a decision will issue from the Commission on the grant aid of 9.3 million Euros; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18968/97]
Ivan Yates
Question:159 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has satisfied herself with the progress being made in relation to the AER II project regarding the incineration plant; and if she will give details of the current position in this regard. [18619/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 57 and 159 together.
The outcome of the AER II competition was announced in late February 1997. Shortly afterwards, a socio-economic cost benefit analysis of the winning project was completed and submitted to the European Commission (DGXVI) for the purposes of approval of the European Regional Development Fund grant.
The European Commission raised a number of questions in relation to the matter and my Department has responded in the last number of days. I am not in a position to say when a response will issue from the Commission in regard to the project.
Waste-to-energy is also a technology category allowed under the AER III and IV competitions which are currently under way. The biomass/waste-to-energy target for AER III is 7 megawatts. The overall target for AER IV is 25 megawatts from combined heat and power and waste is one of the qualifying fuels.
The current round of the EU funded THERMIE programme, for which electricity market access is guaranteed for successful Irish projects, also supports waste-to-energy and combined heat and power projects.