David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he is interacting with the Maritime and Energy Research Campus and Commercial Cluster; his views on the work it is doing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15915/11]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the interaction he has had with the Maritime and Energy Research Campus and Commercial Cluster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15914/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 37 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the marine renewable energy is an emerging industry worldwide which has considerable potential for economic growth and job creation. The acknowledged scale of Ireland's wave resource is such that the development and deployment of wave, tidal and offshore wind technologies is considered to have considerable potential for economic activity as well as contributing to our renewable energy targets in the longer term.

To that end my Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) have been working for several years to support a number of R&D developments under the Ocean Energy Strategy. These include funding support for ocean energy prototype devices and support for the development of the Maritime and Energy Research Campus and Commercial Cluster (MERC3) in Cork.

MERC3 is an established joint venture by University College Cork (UCC), Cork Institute of Technology and the Irish Naval Service, with the objective of becoming a maritime research and commercial cluster of global standing. The new Research Campus in Ringaskiddy, alongside the National Maritime College of Ireland, will feature UCC's new Beaufort Building, which will house one of the largest marine renewable energy research group in the world.

The SEAI operates a dedicated Ocean Energy Development Unit which is represented on the board of the MERC development. I look forward to meeting the key stakeholders in MERC at an early date for a detailed briefing on their plans.

As part of a Strategic environmental Analysis of Irish waters for renewable energy development, my Department and SEAI are currently finalising an Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP). EirGrid is also modelling different scenarios for possible offshore grid infrastructure as part of the European North Seas offshore Initiative comprising 10 countries including Ireland.

Ireland is already considered to have developed world-class ocean research and test facilities at the Galway Bay 1⁄4 Scale Test Site, and the SmartBay Ireland project, which is led by the Marine Institute. The National Wave Test Facility at the Hydraulic and Marine Resources Centre in UCC also has a high international reputation and is scheduled to become part of the Maritime and Energy Research Campus and Commercial Cluster. The development of a full scale grid connected wave energy test site at Belmullet, County Mayo will also require decisions shortly.

In common with all other areas of Government expenditure, future investment support for ocean energy development is being kept under review on an ongoing basis having regard for overall budgetary constraints.