Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the plans in place to facilitate net metering for those who generate small amounts of renewable energy to be incorporated into the all-island single electricity market. [25732/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government commits to developing Ireland's considerable potential for distributed generation, including micro-generation. In terms of international best practice we have a considerable distance to catch up.

The first step in implementing the Programme for Government commitment, in relation to micro-generation, is the facilitation of a 'net metering' system whereby local producers can sell surplus electricity they generate back to the grid. This will be facilitated by the introduction of smart meters to all micro-generation sites.

My Department is working closely with the Commission for Energy Regulation, Sustainable Energy Ireland, ESB Networks and the Electro-Technical Council of Ireland, to put in place these and all other administrative, technical and safety standards and practices to underpin the widespread deployment of micro-generation technologies.

Any development of distributed generation on an all-island basis would be undertaken in full consultation with the Northern Ireland authorities in the context of the all-island energy framework.