Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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780. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will discuss the proposed strategic framework for specific wind energy export proposals and their assessment and the overall policy and planning framework that should guide An Bord Pleanála when considering any proposals for wind energy export projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37259/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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In January of this year the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Mr. Ed Davey MP and I signed a Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation. That Memorandum sent a strong signal of our shared interest in developing the opportunity to export green electricity from Ireland to Britain and will result in completion of consideration of how Irish renewable energy resources, onshore and offshore, might be developed to the mutual benefit of both countries. An agreed programme of work to this end is underway with the ambition to settle on an Inter-Governmental Agreement in early 2014. A key objective, from an Irish Government perspective, is to realise the potential for investment, jobs and growth. The amount of energy to be procured by the UK and the mechanisms for sharing the resultant economic benefits, including an appropriate return to the Exchequer, are among the matters to be addressed ahead of signing any Inter-Governmental Agreement. One of the key requirements for proposals of a significant scale for wind energy export will be the achievement of the necessary planning consents in Ireland. Planning permission for major renewable energy projects of significant scale are determined by An Bord Pleanála (ABP). In order to facilitate decisions by ABP on projects specifically for export, a clear national planning policy framework is essential and I have asked my Department to prepare such a framework. The policy framework will provide the opportunity to integrate relevant EU Directive requirements (including Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment), trans-boundary dimensions and stakeholder participation within the context of a national framework. The outcome will be a high level development framework taking its lead from the Inter-Governmental Agreement, EU Directive requirements and relevant national, regional and local planning policy considerations in conjunction with wider policies, objectives and requirements. It will incorporate a vision and strategy coupled with technical parameters and a spatial element.

The development of the framework will be progressed by my Department over the next year or so and will provide confidence and certainty for all stakeholders through an open, fair, balanced and consultative process. It is intended to commence public consultation in the coming weeks by formally inviting all interested parties and members of the public to make written submissions on the export project which will be taken into consideration in preparing the framework. Details on this will be provided through a new dedicated section on my Department’s website, exclusive to the project, and which will be updated as the project progresses.

It is important to note that any wind energy export strategy would also depend on the conclusion of an Inter-Governmental Agreement that would ensure such exports were in the interests of both Ireland and Britain.