Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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469. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to review the practice of purchasing gate access to the electricity network; his plans to review the way renewable energy generators access the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3971/14]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Gate process has been designed by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) specifically to meet Ireland’s national renewable target of 40% of electricity supplied from renewable sources by 2020. The Gate 3 offer and acceptance process concluded late last year, except for a small number of offers which remain live. The CER is currently commencing the process of reviewing the connection and access policy for renewable and non-renewable generators to the grid, post Gate 3.

The CER aims to publish a public consultation paper on the new connection policy for renewable and non-renewable generators in Quarter 2, 2014. Consideration will be given to Ireland’s renewable targets and Ireland’s system operators requirements in the development of this policy as well as likely build out of Gate 3 connections. This consultation will also take account of learnings from the Gate 3 process which was a large Gate, aimed specifically at ensuring sufficient renewable connections were in place by 2020 to meet Ireland’s targets. CER has not taken any decisions on the nature, scale or criteria for connection and access policy post Gate 3.