Seanad debates

Thursday, 20 June 2024

Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters

Sustainable Energy Communities

9:30 am

Photo of John CumminsJohn Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the response but there is some disconnect between what he has said in relation to the 2024 scheme and the reality on the ground. The response states that four applications that were made in June and mid-May were awaiting approval but the project tracker on the SEAI website refers to a whole bundle of applications that were made on 24 January that are awaiting a decision. That is the thrust of the question I am asking here this morning because I am aware of a sporting facility in my own city of Waterford that cannot proceed with its project because it is awaiting a decision on an energy project that it has submitted. It has not received a decision, it is now the middle of June and it cannot proceed with their sports capital drawdown in conjunction with that.

There is a disconnect between what the Minister has acutally said on the record of the House and the reality on the ground. Something is amiss somewhere and I have been trying to get to the bottom of this for the last couple of months and have not been able to. I am not questioning the Minister or the response that he has given as this is what he has been given by the officials but there is a disconnect between the reality of how the situation is. There are many community groups that are awaiting that decision and I would ask the Minister to please investigate the matter. It is different from what has been given here.

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