John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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461. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to consider providing grant aid for the installation of photovoltaic cells on roofs of houses for electricity generation, similar to the grant scheme operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8086/16]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The White Paper on Energy Policy, published in December 2015, identifies the potential for solar technology in Ireland, including the development of Solar Photovoltaic (PV).

It is widely recognised that Solar PV technology has become more cost competitive for electricity generation, not only compared with other renewables but also compared with conventional forms of generation. The deployment of Solar PV in Ireland has the potential to contribute to our renewable energy targets and is one of the technologies being considered in the context of ongoing work to develop a new support scheme for renewable electricity.

My Department published a public consultation on the development of a new renewable electricity support scheme (RESS) last year. This consultation was designed to review the technology options that may be supported by any new incentive scheme. Solar PV - utility-scale and roof-top mounted - will be assessed as part of the design process for the new scheme, and an additional public consultation will take place in 2016 before a decision is taken on the introduction of a new renewable support mechanism.

The next phase of this work will explore a range of design options for the support tariff. This will involve assessing whether a grant payment or simple tariff payment option is the most appropriate and cost effective support mechanism to encourage the deployment of renewable technology.

Details of the next public consultation will be advertised on the Department’s website . Before any such scheme could be introduced, it would have to secure Government approval and State Aid clearance from the European Commission.