Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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459. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the name and location, by county, of community benefit schemes in place for wind farms owned or operated by semi-State companies under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8053/16]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The operation and detail of any community benefit schemes operated by Semi-State companies is a matter for the companies themselves and I have no function in relation to such.

The development of the recently published Energy White Paper 'Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030', revealed a wide citizen and community desire to be consulted on, and participate in, Ireland’s energy transition and the development of energy-related projects. The White Paper acknowledges the need to develop mechanisms and instruments to make this happen and commits the Government to working to widen the opportunity for participation. An additional and potentially important element in developing our energy systems will be exploring the potential of microgeneration which would be primarily focused on communities.

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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460. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the mean wind speed profiles forecast by the 2003 and 2013 wind atlases for Ireland for all wind farms with a capacity greater than 5MW, including those with connection offers that are as yet uncommissioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8055/16]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I understand that the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) wind atlas was developed as an information tool for Local Authorities to identify areas suitable for renewable energy in their County Development Plans and for developing their wind energy strategies. The SEAI wind atlas is available at .

The wind atlas provides information on wind speeds in various areas around Ireland. It does not provide an analysis of speeds at specific wind farm sites, whether operational or in planning, for which specialist wind farm modelling capability and site specific data, would be required. However, the SEAI wind atlas database is available to any private or public entity wishing to carry out an initial analysis of the wind energy potential of a site in Ireland. As Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, it is not appropriate for me to comment on the technical details of individual wind farms.

Neither does the wind atlas contain information pertaining to connection offers. Information in relation to renewable electricity generation capacity connected to the electricity grid, including capacity that is contracted for connection, is available on EirGrid’s and ESB Networks’ websites at and respectively. If the Deputy wishes to obtain detailed information regarding grid connection offers she should contact EirGrid and ESB Networks who are the electricity system operators.