Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to facilitate connection to the grid for a new wind generation project onshore and offshore that makes commercial sense but is not part of the gate three process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35600/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has operated a group approach to connecting projects to the national grid, which is designed to streamline the connection process in the interests of efficiency and cost effectiveness for developers. The current group approach, Gate 3, was the subject of extensive public consultation by the CER prior to its final decision in December 2008. In keeping with the Government target of 40% renewable energy contribution to electricity consumption, Gate 3 provides for an additional 4,000 MW of renewable generator connection offer.

The question of developing projects beyond the gate 3 process will depend on the level of take up by developers of the capacity in that process and on the ability of the grid to safely and securely accommodate steadily increasing amounts of intermittent power generation. This will be influenced by the roll-out of EirGrid's GRID25 programme, the level of interconnection that develops with the UK and potentially to mainland Europe, and on the rate that technology improvements impact on both the grid and on wind turbines. Applications for grid connections are made to ESB Networks or to EirGrid depending on size. Supervision of the grid connection process and settlement of any disputes arising is vested in the CER. I have no direct involvement in that process.