Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2010
562 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he submitted the national renewable energy plans to the European Commission by the deadline of 30 June 2010 and if not, if he will provide the reasons for missing this deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31159/10]
View answerDirective 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources establishes the basis for the achievement of the EU's 20% renewable energy target by 2020. Under the terms of the Directive, each Member State is set an individually binding renewable energy target, which will contribute to the achievement of the overall EU goal.
The Directive requires each Member State to adopt a national renewable energy action plan to be submitted to the European Commission by 30 June 2010. These plans are to set out Member States' national targets for the share of energy from renewable sources consumed in transport, electricity and heating and cooling in 2020, taking into account the effects of other policy measures relating to energy efficiency on final consumption of energy.
A European Commission Decision (C(2009)5174) of 30 June 2009 established a template for National Renewable Energy Action Plans under Directive 2009/28/EC. The purpose of the template is to ensure that the national plans are complete, cover all the requirements laid down in the Directive and are comparable with each other and future Member State biannual reports on the implementation of the Directive.
Ireland's National Renewable Energy Action Plan is being finalised in accordance with the established template. A targeted consultation on the plan was carried out via the Renewable Energy Development Group, which is chaired by my Department. A number of meetings of the group were convened at which this plan was the main topic of discussion. Initial draft text relating to section 4 was issued on a section by section basis to the members of the group and feedback was requested and received.
Following this first round of targeted consultation, the entire draft plan was disseminated through the Department's website for views and comment by all interested parties ahead of the submission to the European Commission. The draft plan (which runs to some 150 pages) is published and available on the Department's website. The consultation on the draft plan was open from 11th June to 25th June.
Some 55 submissions were received in response to the public consultation. Most of the submissions, a number of which are lengthy in nature, were received on the final day of the consultation period. My Department is completing analysis of the feedback received prior to submission of the final version of the National Renewable Energy Action Plan to the Commission and has advised the Commission accordingly. The final plan is expected to be submitted shortly.
