Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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14. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of serious questions being raised by communities and credible experts regarding the efficiency and environmental value of large scale industrial wind farms, if he will undertake a root and branch review of energy policy and in particular a cost benefit analysis of all renewable energy sources, with a view to achieving a consensus and best outcome for the development of genuinely sustainable development of renewable energy resources, and involve all stakeholders in such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24672/14]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I recently published the Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland to stimulate an informed debate on future energy policy. Set against the backdrop of the three energy pillars of ensuring security of supply, sustainability and competitiveness, and the further need to stimulate economic growth, the Paper focuses on a number of key themes. The six priority themes are: empowering energy citizens; markets, regulation and prices; planning and implementing essential energy infrastructure; ensuring a balanced and secure energy mix; putting the energy system on a sustainable pathway; and driving economic opportunity.The process includes a full public consultation and a targeted stakeholder consultation on the priority areas. The public consultation runs to 31 July and I would urge all stakeholders, including members of the public, to engage with the consultation. In analysing options for increased use of renewable energy as we approach 2020 and look to 2030 and beyond, we need to ensure our ambition is both sustainable, and economically and technically feasible. Analysis is being undertaken by my Department, the SEAI, EirGrid and the CER to further assess the costs and benefits associated with achieving 40% renewable electricity generation in 2020, compared to a scenario where renewable electricity remains at 2013 levels. This ongoing analysis will inform a report to be published shortly, and builds on existing work in this area. For example, the recently published SEAI report on Quantifying Ireland’s Fuel and CO2 Emissions Savings from Renewable Electricity in 2012 found that the value of the fossil fuels not consumed in the Republic of Ireland in 2012 as a result of renewable electricity generation is estimated at €245 million, with the value of avoided CO2 emissions being a further €15 million.

Separately, work is also ongoing within my Department to prepare a policy and development framework for renewable electricity. The scoping for the associated Strategic Environmental Assessment which will underpin the framework is currently being prepared, taking into account the Stage 1 consultation responses and will be published as part of the Stage 2 consultation in the near future. The policy and development framework will focus on potential projects of significant scale, and its preparation will involve three phases of public consultation in total.