Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes.

Coming back to the broader question that Deputy Smith and Deputy Lawless asked about the communities aspect of renewable energy, I was appointed 16 months ago as Minister and I think in the first interview I gave I made this very point: that we need to engage with communities more and we need to broaden the renewable energy portfolio and not put all our eggs into one basket. I think that interview came two days after my appointment. I accept what Deputy Smith says.

However, she does not have the facts and maybe there has been a weakness on my part in failing to explain what we have done in the past 16 months. These are on the Department's website. One of the first things I did as Minister was to tell the Department that we needed to review our renewable energy policy because I have always felt we were putting all our eggs into one basket. The review is ongoing and is looking at the broad range of renewable energy technologies, not just wind. I agreed a new code of practice with the wind industry, to which it signed up at the end of last year and which incorporates a clear complaints procedure, a process in which there is level of engagement with local authorities and a requirement for the industry to report, on an annual basis, on how it dealt with complaints. This addresses the problems with existing wind farms, some of which I have personally experienced. The industry has written to each Member of the Oireachtas stating that there is now a dedicated email for Deputies, Senators and councillors to engage with the code of practice. It was not easy to agree but we agreed it and I acknowledge the work of my Department and the industry in doing so.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has started an engagement to put a community gain proposal in place. The challenge is how to put something in place that is real and tangible but also has the flexibility to deal with different measures in different communities. One community may wish to buy into a wind farm or another renewable energy proposal that has been proposed. In other areas, the community may want to develop an enterprise hub or a tourism project. I told the SEAI that I wanted to see a community dividend that has a long-term economic benefit to the community beyond the renewable energy project. The SEAI has published its report and there is now a consultation process as part of the renewable electricity support scheme. I look forward to the input of the public in this regard. I want real and tangible community dividends from renewable energy projects across the country.