Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in response to the much anticipated announcement of REFIT III and in view of what happened subsequent to the announcement of REFIT II (details supplied) ; on what date will his Department send REFIT III to the EU Commission for State aid clearance. [23974/10]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if it is his intention to allow time for consultation with the stakeholders in the REFIT III scheme prior to sending it for state aid clearance. [23975/10]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the time line for the implementation of the support scheme REFIT III on the occasion of state aid clearance from the EU. [23976/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 151 to 153, inclusive, together.

In September 2007, my Department obtained State Aid clearance from the EU to run a renewable energy feed in tariff scheme (REFIT) for the wind, small hydro, landfill gas and biomass combustion sectors. Under the terms of the State Aid clearance, new applications could be accepted into the scheme until 31 December 2009. The Department is currently in the process of preparing a new state aid application to extend the time period of the original REFIT scheme to cover new renewable generation commensurate with meeting our renewable energy target under Directive 2009/28/EC. As part of this process, an internal review of the terms and conditions of the scheme is being finalised.

Once the application for extension of the original REFIT scheme has been submitted to the European Commission, applications for REFIT for additional sectors including offshore wind, wave and tidal (ocean), Anaerobic Digestion/Combined Heat and power and biomass combustion including biomass co-firing will be submitted to the Commission. The tariffs for bio-energy were recently announced following consultation with all relevant stakeholders. New REFIT applications will be processed without delay following State Aid clearance.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the action being taken by the regulator and the distribution system operator (details supplied) to ensure the development of the smart grid to allow small renewable generators, less than 5 MW, non-firm access to the distribution network rather than pay for costly reinforcements that prevent these projects from proceeding to the distribution network as is currently the case. [23977/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) published a decision in 2009 that allows for certain renewable, small and low carbon generators to connect to the transmission and distribution grids without going through the full rigours of the 'Gate' process. This includes small projects, research and development projects and those that qualify as they are deemed to provide benefits of a public nature that merit qualification. This policy facilitates renewable generators including small bio-energy, wave and tidal generators. ESB Networks and EirGrid are taking full account of this decision in network and grid planning and roll out.

The CER Decision Paper (CER 09/099) was published on 24 July 2009 and is called 'Treatment of Small, Renewable and Low Carbon Renewable Generators outside the GPA'. It is available on the CER's website.