Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the financial assistance provided by his Department to support ocean energy for the past three years; and the financial commitment for 2010. [16599/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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In line with the Government's ambitious Ocean Energy Strategy, the Ocean Energy Development Unit (OEDU) was established in Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) in 2008 and full roll out of the Ocean Energy programme commenced last year. Expenditure on the Ocean Energy Programme was €1m in 2008 and €3.764m in 2009. €7.82m has been allocated to the Ocean Energy Programme for 2010 and it is expected that this funding will be fully spent.

This is made up of Ø grant aid under the Prototype Development Fund, which this year will assist 10 Irish companies developing ocean and tidal energy devices; Ø funding for the development of the grid connected Annagh Head test site Ø maintenance and improvements to the existing (non grid connected) Galway Bay test site; Ø upgrading and up-skilling of the Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre (HMRC) Ø the strategic environmental assessment of Irish waters for ocean energy offshore wind development, which is underway. The pattern of expenditure to date reflects the fact that work to progress the grid connected test site was at a very preliminary stage during 2009 and the approved prototype funding support is being disbursed over the two years 2009 and 2010.

SEAI, working with ESB International, the Marine Institute and industry stakeholders, is developing the grid connected site off Annagh Point, County Mayo. This facility will provide for the testing of operational pre-commercial wave energy devices directly connected to the electricity network. The test site will be a key enabler for the development of an ocean energy industry in Ireland. An exploratory foreshore licence was granted to SEAI in September 2009, which has enabled site investigation works to commence at the planned test site location.

SEAI, under the Ocean Energy Prototype Development Fund, has approved funding support totalling €4.35m for 12 projects from over 30 expressions of interest received. The funding support is designed to stimulate the commercial development and deployment of ocean energy devices that can generate renewable electricity. Additional projects are being assessed at present.