Recommendations to DARD for a renewable energy policy

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is currently leading an inter-departmental Steering Group examining the potential for renewable energy production from the agri-food and forestry sectors, to contribute to the Government’s commitment to lower emissions of CO₂ and greenhouse gases from current levels.

DARD has now published this consultation paper in order to seek views on a renewable energy policy for DARD over the period to 2012.  The policy recommendations within this document have been submitted to DARD from an inter-departmental group established in 2003.  They are based on the findings of a comprehensive review on the sustainability of renewable energy systems in the rural economy, along with previous studies and reviews on the potential for renewables in Northern Ireland (e.g. Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI), 2003).

Based on this review, together with the recommendations made by the inter-departmental group and the responses to this consultation, DARD will develop its future policy position in relation to renewable energy within the context of wider government policy, the opportunities offered by renewables for the rural economy and taking due account value for money and affordability over the longer-term.  

Tel: 028 9252 5021

e-mail: jonathon.doherty@dardni.gov.uk

Hard copies of the consultation document and study, and copies in alternative formats, can also be obtained from the above address. In your request please state if you would like both documents or the policy recommendations only.

At the end of the consultation period, we intend to make copies of the comments received available on request.  We will assume that your response may be made available unless you indicate clearly in the body of your response that you wish part or all of it to be excluded from this arrangement.

The Data Protection Act: Information provided by the respondents to this consultation exercise will be held and used for the purposes of the administration of this current exercise.

The Freedom of Information Act gives the public a right of access to any information held by a public authority, namely, the Department in this case. This right of access to information includes information provided in response to a consultation. The Department cannot automatically consider as confidential information supplied to it in response to a consultation. However, it does have the responsibility to decide whether any information provided by you in response to this consultation including information about your identity, should be made public or be treated as confidential. If you do not wish information about your identity to be made public please include an explanation in your response.

This means that information provided by you in response to the consultation is unlikely to be treated as confidential, except in very particular circumstances. The Lord Chancellor’s Code of Practice on the Freedom of Information Act provides that:

For further information about confidentiality of responses please contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (or see website at: www.information commissioner.gov.uk).