Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. A well-balanced fuel mix is essential to meeting these objectives for consumers and businesses. Onshore wind contributes significantly to achieving these objectives. A 2014 Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, report listed the benefits from wind electricity generation in 2012.

In summary, almost 600 kilotonnes oil equivalent of fossil fuels were displaced, valued at €180 million, with a consequent carbon dioxide saving of 1.5 million tonnes, valued at €11 million.

A report published by the Council for European Energy Regulators recently found Ireland to have one of the lowest levels of monetary support per unit of gross electricity produced. In other words, Ireland's approach to subsidising renewable electricity generation is amongst the most cost-effective in the EU.

As we make the transition to a low-carbon economy, we will continue to assess the alternative energy sources that are available to us, including offshore wind in the longer term. This was acknowledged in the Green Paper on Energy Policy, published in May 2014. More than 1,200 responses to the public consultation were received and 12 public seminars were held to enable public participation in the finalisation of a White Paper, which will be published in September.

It is essential that local communities are at the heart of the transition to a sustainable energy system. The Department is currently finalising a renewable electricity policy and development framework, which is to be underpinned by a strategic environmental assessment and an appropriate assessment. The proposed framework, which will be completed in 2015, will be a high-level strategic policy intended for the guidance of persons seeking development consent primarily for large-scale renewable electricity projects, as well as for the guidance of planning authorities, statutory authorities and the public. The next stage of public consultation will commence shortly with the publication of the scoping report. This work, along with a review of the existing wind energy guidelines currently being finalised by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, will set a clear framework for the development of renewable energy infrastructure into the future.

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