Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 May 2001

Vol. 537 No. 2

Written Answers. - Energy Costs.

David Stanton

Question:

131 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the energy costs incurred by her Department each year for the past three years in each of the energy sectors respectively; the use made of renewable energy; her further plans regarding same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15852/01]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The information sought by the Deputy in relation to energy costs incurred by my Department in each of the past three years for the various sectors is as shown in the following table:

	1998£	1999£	2000£
Gas	29,310	23,478	28,594
Electricity	128,069	193,631	172,421
Oil	8,307	3,887	4,381

The electricity bills presented to my Department do not include a breakdown of the sources used in the generating of electricity supplied, but a small element would be based on renewable sources.

My colleague, the Minister for State at my Department, recently announced a programme to provide market support for 255 megawatts of electricity generated from renewables, which will result in a trebling of the amount of electricity generated from renewables in Ireland.