Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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432. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the proposed energy export policy and development framework; the number of submissions that were received during the consultation process and from what sectors; when the framework will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9073/14]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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There are three stages in the development of the Renewable Energy Export Policy and Development Framework. I have stated on a number of occasions that transparency in the development of the framework is crucial and that the views of local communities must be at the heart of the transition to renewable energy.

The Stage 1 consultation, which involved the publication of Stage 1 information and summary documents, ran from 23 October to 22 November last year, and gave all interested parties an opportunity, at the outset, to present their views on how we should develop national policy to realise the opportunity to trade renewable energy with other EU Member States and, in the first instance, with the United Kingdom. My Department received nearly 1,400 responses to the consultation across a range of sectors all of which are available on my Department's website. My Department is now in the process of assessing the responses to inform the development of the framework.

In order to complete Stage 1 of the development of the framework, taking into account the feedback received, my Department will now prepare the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) scoping report. The process will then move to Stage 2 with the publication of the scoping report for public consultation by the end of March. National press advertisements and updates on my Department's website will inform all stakeholders of the commencement of the Stage 2 consultation. During Stage 2 a report on the Stage 1 consultation will also be published providing an overview of the consultation process, feedback and analysis.

During Stage 3 the draft policy, the Environmental Report (on which the Strategic Environmental Assessment will be based) and Natura Impact Statement (on which the Appropriate Assessment will be based) will all be published and a public consultation will provide all stakeholders a further opportunity to contribute to or make observations on the development of the framework.