Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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222. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will publish proposals on the refit for solar power; the likely rate of the tariff, at such point in time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42098/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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On 31 July last, my Department launched a consultation on a new support scheme for renewable electricity. While the initial phase of the consultation closed on 18 September 2015, there will be two further opportunities to contribute at key stages in the design of any new scheme. The consultations will be informative regarding the technologies that will assist in meeting our future renewable energy targets and may include support for solar photovoltaic. Subject to Government approval and State Aid clearance from the European Commission, the new scheme would become available in 2016. Analysis of the potential of microgeneration technologies such as small scale wind, solar (including photovoltaic) and small scale hydro, has been carried out by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The SEAI's findings, along with responses to the consultation on the Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland, will inform future policy on the provision of any market support for microgeneration.