Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the numbers, for each category, of renewable power projects within the AER V and AER VI support mechanisms, which he expects will be able to connect to the grid before the time deadlines notified in clause 2.2.4 of the AER V competition rules and clause 2.8 of the AER VI competition rules; the number of projects in each category which now have either a forecast connection after the end of 2005 or have for other reasons been delayed; the timeframe and assessment standards which will apply to his Department's case by case consideration of possible extensions to these contracts; if he expects any such contracts to be reallocated to other projects on the AER reserve lists. [3122/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The time deadline referred to in both of these clauses is 31 December 2004. However, last June a general extension to the time deadline was granted to compliant projects where delays occurred due to later forecasts for connections to the electricity network or other delays occurred beyond the control of the applicant in AER V or VI. This extension is until 31 December 2005.

Outside of this general extension, applications for extensions to time deadlines will be dealt with, on a case by case basis, in accordance with clauses 4.3 to 4.6 of the terms and conditions of the AER V and clauses 4.3 to 4.7 of the terms and conditions of the AER VI. In general terms, extensions will only be granted where it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of my Department that the reason for the delay was beyond the control of the project developer.

The general extension in place to the end of this year will apply unless it comes to the notice of my Department that in a particular case a project is being delayed for reasons that are within the control of the project developer. Where it is proposed to withdraw AER support in any particular case, the applicant will be afforded an opportunity to make representations why that course of action should not be pursued. Any such representations will be considered objectively and on its merits. I cannot prejudge such representations by speculating at this point in time as to how much capacity will be reallocated to other projects on the reserve lists.

With regard to the timing of grid connection offers, I have no function in relation to such matters, which are primarily a matter for the network operator, which is in turn regulated by the Commission for Energy Regulation. However, I am aware of the CER decision of 23 December last, Direction on Resuming Connections Offers to Wind Generators. The network operators have five months from the date of the decision to issue binding offers to what are termed "gate 1" applicants for connection and recipients have 30 days to respond. It is not possible to make any reasonable assumptions on the take up of connection offers until this process is completed.

In the event that capacity support is ultimately withdrawn from any project or surrendered by any project developer, that capacity will be reallocated to the next projects up to the limit of the capacity withdrawn or surrendered on the published reserve list in accordance with the terms and conditions of the AER VI competition.