Vol. 507 No. 2
70 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if or when a new competition for alter native energy, particularly biomass, will be agreed; if EU funding under Objective One will be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16796/99]
My Department has hosted four competitions for rights to operate renewable energy based electricity generating stations and to sell the electricity to the Electricity Supply Board under published terms. These competitions will increase renewable energy based electricity generating plant to 10 per cent of total electricity generating capacity by end 1999.
Proposals to further promote renewable energy technologies, including biomass, will be outlined in the Green Paper on Sustainable Energy which I will publish shortly.
In relation to EU funding, I refer the Deputy to the answer to Dáil Questions Nos. 25, 29, 31 and 32 of 24 June 1999, in which the Minister for Finance stated that no commitments on EU aid can be given in advance of a Government decision on the National Development Plan.
