Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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106. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the action being taken by his Department to encourage development of new wave technology, which provides a sustainable way to harness the natural resources available on the coast here by the use of tidal turbines; and his views that given the extensive coastline here, this form of renewable energy has significant potential to allow a move away from fossil fuels. [31761/15]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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The development of Ireland's abundant offshore renewable energy resource will be an increasingly important element of Ireland's future energy policies. Offshore renewable energy has the potential to: generate carbon free renewable electricity; reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels; enhance our security of energy supply; and deliver green growth and jobs to the economy.

Policy action across a range of areas is required to support developers in bringing ocean energy devices, including wave and tidal, from prototype to full scale commerciality. Such action is being taken in the context of the implementation of the 2014 Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP), which sets out Government policy in relation to the sustainable development of Ireland's abundant offshore renewable energy resources. A Steering Group, chaired by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR), has been established which includes representatives from other relevant government departments and agencies. The Steering Group is overseeing the implementation of the Plan.

Exchequer support for ocean research, development and demonstration has been provided to the sector in recent years and is being increased under the OREDP. In total, my Department has allocated €26.3 million for ocean energy for the period 2013 to 2016. This supports the development of the test sites in counties Mayo, Galway and Cork, the Integrated Maritime Energy Resource Cluster (IMERC) at Ringaskiddy, and the Prototype Development Fund operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), which provides grant aid for the development of prototype ocean energy devices.

Further funding options are being discussed cross-departmentally and the OREDP also proposes, subject to further Government approval, an initial market support scheme for wave and tidal energy from 2016 onwards.