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Biofuel Obligation Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 6 September 2019

Friday, 6 September 2019

Ceisteanna (1501, 1515)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

1501. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to extend the biofuel obligation to home heating oil; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35371/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

1515. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has considered introducing a biofuels obligation in the home heating sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35630/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1501 and 1515 together.

The Biofuels Obligation Scheme, administered by the National Oil Reserves Agency, is the principal support for the uptake of biofuels in Ireland. The scheme was introduced in 2010 and requires suppliers of liquid road transport fuel to ensure that biofuels make up a certain percentage of annual fuel sales.

My Department carried out a public consultation on the Biofuels Obligation Scheme that ran from December 2017 to January 2018. This consultation included a specific question in relation to the potential for an obligation scheme (similar to the Biofuels Obligation Scheme) in the heat sector. The majority of submissions received in response to this consultation did not support the introduction of such an obligation at that time. The submissions received in relation to this consultation are published on my Department's website.

As set out in the Government’s Climate Action Plan, a public consultation will be carried out later this year on the development of the Biofuels Obligation Scheme in the period 2021-2030. This consultation will, similar to the previous consultation, raise the potential of an obligation in the heat sector. The submissions received in response to this consultation will help inform the development of a future obligation on the heat sector in Ireland.

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