Mr. Justin Moran:

We would like to see the wind energy guidelines come out as quickly as possible. I think there is a recognition within the industry and communities that we need guidelines that are fit for purpose and enable us to develop the onshore wind energy projects we need to deliver over the coming years. As for identifying sources of best practice, I could start singling out particular wind farms and companies. One I will point to is the Mountlucas wind farm, a Bord na Móna project in Offaly. I cannot speak for Bord na Móna, but if the committee wanted to visit an onshore wind farm that shows not just a really good project but really good examples of biodiversity and how it has been supported in the community, that would be a good project to consider. The ESB has some fantastic projects under way. I think Grousemount, in Kerry, was due to become operational last year or is being connected. Galway Wind Park, which is an SSE project, is award-winning for its level of community engagement. With many of these projects, we see that they are not just building wind farms; they are building local amenities around them, including walking and hiking trails and interpretive centres. Those are really good examples.

The last point I will make is that it is rare to the point of unfathomable that an onshore wind farm would go through a project process now and not change in response to community engagement. The turbines might move. The size of the turbines might change. The substations might be moved. Every effort is made to try to accommodate people and to meet them halfway in order that a balance is achieved, and that balance is critical. We need to develop onshore wind energy but we also need to ensure that the rights and the interests of the local community are protected. One of the advantages of the new renewable electricity support scheme is that it puts in place a very large community benefit fund, which I think will be under the control of the community, and it will decide what the fund is spent on. That is really important. We need to get the community engagement right before we start talking about the benefit. Once we get the engagement right, I think people will see real, appreciable benefits in their community. That is important.