My Department has not completed an assessment of the potential for regional bioenergy clusters in counties with strong agricultural and infrastructural assets. The policy in relation to the development of regional bioenergy clusters in Ireland is shared across government, with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine leading on bioeconomy policy and implementation of the Bioeconomy Action Plan. The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment also plays a key role by supporting renewable energy policy and the development of sustainable bioenergy projects.
I can confirm that proposals in the bioenergy field have been submitted and evaluated by Enterprise Ireland under the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme and any such applicants have been informed of the outcome of their applications. This Scheme closed for applications on 12th June.
It is intended that an assessment of regional enterprise expenditure to date will be undertaken this year. There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to the reform of the way that this funding is undertaken, and the Department's assessment of the various funds outcomes will assist in formulating future policy.
