Government agencies
COFORD
The National Council for Forest Research and Development. [Hosts of www.woodenergy.ie]
Coillte
Coillte Teoranta is a Semi-State company which operates in forestry and related businesses. The company's shareholders are the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, who own the shares on behalf of the Irish State. The company was established as a private limited company under the Forestry Act 1988 which sets out its objectives and duties.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is Ireland’s independent energy and water regulator. The CRU was originally established as the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) in 1999. The CER changed its name to the CRU in 2017 to better reflect the expanded powers and functions of the organisation.
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
The Department has responsibility for forestry policy. Through its agency, the Forest Service, the Department is responsible for ensuring the development of forestry within Ireland in a manner and to a scale that maximises its contribution to national socio-economic well-being on a sustainable basis that is compatible with the protection of the environment.
Dept of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources
The Department's Renewable Energy Division is responsible for implementing measures to increase the penetration of renewable energy technologies in electricity production in Ireland. To date this has been achieved primarily through the administration of competitions under the Alternative Energy Requirement (AER) Programme.
Dept of Environment, Heritage & Local Government
The Department aims to promote sustainable development and improve the quality of life through protection of the environment and heritage, infrastructure provision, balanced regional development and good local government.
Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent public body established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992. The other main instruments from which it derives its mandate are the Waste Management Act, 1996, and the Protection of the Environment Act, 2003. The EPA has a wide range of functions to protect the environment. Its primary activities include: Environmental licensing Enforcement of environmental law Environmental planning and guidance Monitoring and reporting on the environmental status- air, water, waste, noise, land and soil Environmental research
Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland
Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) is Ireland's national energy authority. SEAI promotes and assists environmentally and economically sustainable production, supply and use of energy, in support of Government policy, across all sectors of the economy. Its remit relates mainly to improving energy efficiency, advancing the development and competitive deployment of renewable sources of energy and combined heat and power, and reducing the environmental impact of energy production and use, particularly in respect of greenhouse gas emissions.
Teagasc
Teagasc's Forestry Development Unit provides independent nationwide advice, training and research to private forest owners. Forestry development officers are available to advise owners on how best to manage their forest plantations including growing wood for energy.