337 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm when he now proposes to submit the renewable energy feed-in tariff proposal to Brussels for approval and when he expects to confirm details of the proposal to the general public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42581/10]

The application for State Aid Clearance in relation to REFIT for energy from biomass was submitted by my Department to the European Commission earlier this month.

My Department estimates that it will take some months for the State Aid Clearance to be finalised and approved by the European Commission. I expect that I will be in a position to announce implementation of the tariffs in the first quarter of 2011.