Following EU Commission acceptance of the final draft of Ireland's National Allocation Plan for 2008 – 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday took the Final Allocation Decision on the Plan.

This decision finalises the allocations of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission allowances which will be made under the Emissions Trading Directive to Ireland’s major GHG emitters for the next five years.

Power generation will account for two thirds of the available national allowances.

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Dr Ken Macken, Programme Manager, EPA said that: "Developing the National Allocation Plan has been a complex task. I believe our proposals are fair and transparent and take into account the environmental integrity of the scheme and the potential effects on the economy."

Over 100 major industrial and institutional sites in Ireland are covered by the plan. These include power generation, other combustion, cement, lime, glass and ceramic plants and oil refining.

Under the revised plan the total quantity of allowances to be allocated in the period 2008-2012 represents 87% of forecasted emissions in that period, with the burden falling mostly on the power generation and cement sectors.

New entrants to the scheme in the five-year period are catered for through a specific set aside of allowances.

(VB/JM)