I propose to take Questions Nos. 960, 970, 981 and 982 together.
Data on the percentage of the vehicle fleet here run solely on bio-fuels or other alternative energy sources is not available. Following the introduction of the Mineral Oil Tax Relief Schemes, much of the road fuels sold at forecourts contain at least some bio-fuel content. All vehicles are capable of taking blends of up to 5% without modification.
There are no applications awaiting approval in my Department in relation to Bio-fuels. Bio-fuels Mineral Oil Tax Relief Schemes were launched by my Department in 2005 and 2006 resulting in 18 projects being awarded excise relief between 2005 and 2010. The schemes were designed as interim measures to accelerate the level of bio-fuels in the fuel mix, in advance of the introduction of a bio-fuels obligation. As a result of these schemes, bio-fuels are already being mainstreamed in blends of up to 5% at a number of existing petrol and diesel pumps, and higher blends are being sold to identified vehicle fleets.
The planned introduction of a Bio-fuels Obligation by 2009 will require all fuel suppliers to ensure that bio-fuels represent a certain percentage of their annual fuel sales. The bio-fuels obligation will provide a long-term market based framework for the development of a bio-fuels sector and delivery of bio-fuels targets to 2020.
Ireland's national bio-fuels obligation will take full account of EU and global developments in relation to bio-fuels and related sustainability criteria. Ireland is working closely with other Member States in the negotiations to ensure that all bio-fuels placed on the European and Irish market are verifiably produced by reference to appropriate environmental and sustainability criteria. Our collective objective in the European Union must be to ensure that production and investment in bio-fuels is fully sustainable. I fully support the Commission's objective in relation to setting a robust sustainable framework for bio-fuels policy, which will see the EU taking a lead in this complex area.
Bio-fuels are one aspect of our response to rising emissions in the transport sector. Through appropriate RD&D schemes such as the Charles Parsons awards, we are incentivising the development of second generation bio-fuels, which will not use food stocks as raw material input. I am also committed to progress the use of other renewable energy sources in the transport sector including electricity.