Mr. Justin Moran:

I will pick up on one point Mr. Cunniffe mentioned about the number of turbines and give a practical example. We have a wind farm at Barnesmore in County Donegal that one of our members is repowering. This example will give the committee members an idea of how the change in technology is occurring. That wind farm has 25 turbines and a generating capacity of 15 MW. We are going to take down those 25 turbines and 13 will be put up instead, halving the total number. However, the generating capacity will go from 15 MW to approximately 60 MW to 70 MW. That gives an idea of how rapidly the technology is changing, to the point where we now need fewer turbines to get the same amount of power.

Turning to the issue of public acceptance, opinion polling consistently shows substantial levels of support, 70% to 80%, for wind energy in Ireland. Even when people are asked a question about a wind farm near them, we still see majority support even in rural Ireland. On our end, we need to engage with those people who have questions and concerns about projects. Frankly, we must be improving that aspect continually and always doing a better job. One of the ways we do that is by listening and then changing projects as they are ongoing. It would be very rare today for an onshore wind farm project to finish as it started. The project will change as the concerns of people are listened to and adjustments are made accordingly.

For example, one project in the midlands started out with either 27 or 29 turbines and it is now going to be built with 23 turbines. The substation has also been moved to a different location. Those changes have all been based on the feedback that came from people in the community. I think the Deputy is right, therefore, and this issue touches on the point made by Mr. Cunniffe at the end of his contribution. The only way we are going to develop wind farms and grid infrastructure is through enhanced public engagement as early as possible. We must not just listen to people, which is obviously valuable, but also take their views into account and adjust accordingly wherever that is possible.