Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 378: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to provide grant aid for householders in suitable locations wishing to install wind turbines or solar panels; his further plans to enable such people to sell excess electricity generated back into the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6316/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to developing domestic scale renewable electricity and heat technologies.

The Greener Homes Scheme was launched in March 2006 and it provides support to homeowners to invest in a range of renewable energy heating technologies including solar technology, wood biomass boilers and stoves, and heat pumps.

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has undertaken work on Metering Options for Small Scale Renewable and CHP Electricity Generation. The study identified a number of areas which require further analysis including the ability of such processes to secure adequate payment for their exports, a review of connection standards and processes for smaller generators, and the implications of the Single Electricity Market for small-scale electricity generation.

These technical and administrative issues are currently being addressed, and my Department is working with the relevant agencies, including SEI, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), ESB Networks and the Electro-Technical Council of Ireland in this regard.

As part of the ongoing work to progress this area, the Commission for Energy Regulation issued a consultation paper on micro generation with a view to establishing appropriate administrative and technical mechanisms. This paper discusses issues such as the technical standards to apply to such generators, the installation process for micro generators, and the metering and commercial arrangements for such generators.

Last year, I raised the issue of planning guidelines for domestic renewable technologies with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, with a view to ensuring a common national approach on such issues. Following a public consultation the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has drafted new regulations for the amendment of the exempted development provisions of the Planning and Development Regulations, 2001. These amendments will permit the installation of solar panels, wind turbines and other micro-renewables, without planning permission in certain circumstances. Last Month, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Development approved the draft Regulations and this week I understand that the Joint Committee intends to report back to both Houses.

We are working with all relevant agencies and the CER to ensure that the appropriate administrative, technical and safety standards and practices are in place to underpin programmes for the widespread deployment of micro generation technologies. I am confident that appropriate solutions suited to the context of the Irish electricity grid and for non-grid connected technologies will be developed with a view to progressing this emerging sector.

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The commercial production of electricity is a fully liberalised sector. I have no statutory authority to insist on any particular ownership arrangement in any independent undertaking proposing to harness wind-power to generate electricity.

It is a matter for each landowner to negotiate the terms and condition under which any other party can occupy the land to construct and operate a windfarm.