Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the last line in the Minister of State's reply which states, "The Government is fully supportive of a community gain approach being applied in the delivery of energy infrastructure". I fully accept that but I am asking for the practical translation of that to be put on a statutory basis. I will give the Minister an example that prompts this question. We will have what will probably be one of the biggest wind farms to be developed in this country, aside from plans for the Midlands, in my area, namely, the Oweninny wind farm being developed by Bord na Móna and Coillte. The type of community fund they are offering per megawatt installed is paltry compared to what some private developers offer and the community have nowhere to go other than to bargain with State companies that do not operate on the same basis as private developers.

The county council has drawn up a guideline as to how communities should be compensated under a community fund but cannot put a condition in the planning permission because there is no statutory basis for it. That is necessary for wind farms, Eirgrid projects and these transmission projects. It is not just landowners who will be affected. Equally, the neighbour will be looking at it but they are not getting a cent for it on paper. We must change the conversation from the lofty heights of aspirations for 2020 targets, listen to the fears of people on the ground and compensate them in a fair manner. Otherwise, we will never reach 2020 targets for renewable energy to be installed. I ask the Minister that that be put on a statutory basis.

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