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

The programme for Government recognises the importance of community participation in renewable energy projects in both the national and local interest. This builds on the 2015 energy White Paper commitment to widen the opportunity for community and citizen participation in renewable energy projects.

While the specific proposal detailed by the Deputy is a commercial matter for Coillte, I am committed to ensuring community participation will be a key design parameter of the new renewable electricity support scheme which is under development in my Department. The new support scheme will be designed to enable communities to actively participate and invest in renewable energy projects, simultaneously reaping the benefits of renewable electricity projects in their local area and contributing to Ireland's low carbon energy future.

A core part of this work is to identify ownership models and meaningful pathways for community participation in renewable energy projects and I expect the results of this analysis will be known shortly. It is expected that a second public consultation will issue in the second quarter of 2017 outlining various design options. However, following the outcome of this second public consultation and before any new scheme is introduced, it will need to secure Government approval and state aid clearance from the European Commission. Subject to this, it is expected that the new scheme will become operational in the first half of 2018.

When the project on Sliabh Bán was first proposed I met Coillte to discuss the specific issue Deputy Eugene Murphy raises. At that stage, I sought a dividend for those living in the vicinity of Sliabh Bán who would be directly impacted by the project. I did not succeed, however, because I was virtually a lone voice on the issue. While everyone thinks it is a good idea now, I was unable to successfully progress the proposal at the time because the legislation and structures introduced before my appointment did not facilitate or allow for such a measure to be taken. I pressed Coillte, a semi-State company, on the issue of being seen to be best in class and it is my intention to ensure all projects in any new support scheme will have a community dividend tied into them.

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