Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position in relation to and his views on the 8000 MW of wind applications to the grid at the present time; the position regarding these applications; if the onshore providers awaiting access to the grid will be given less favourable status than offshore wind applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14648/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The processing of applications for connections to the electricity network is a matter for ESB Networks or EirGrid in the first instance. The processing of Gate Three applications and adjudicating on disputes in relation to connection requests and decisions are matters for the Commission for Energy Regulation. I have no statutory function in the matter.

Projects which have secured a connections offer and planning permission can apply to my Department's Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) programme. The programme offers guaranteed prices to projects across a variety of renewable energy technologies. The provision of a higher price in any category over another is indicative of the higher average production costs in that category. A number of technologies have been added to REFIT in recent months. The different prices under the various REFIT categories do not indicate any preference or priority for any technology over another. The programme does not set out to pick winners in that sense but does aim to reflect the differing investment costs for level of payments required to ensure the completion of projects in the higher cost technologies. My recent announcement of a higher price for offshore wind projects reflects both the higher investment costs and operating costs in that category.