Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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143. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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. [8054/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the operation of Community Benefit Schemes associated with wind farm development, are the responsibility of the company. Coillte has, however, advised that it is currently involved in partnership arrangements to relation to the development of the following windfarms for which Community Benefit Schemes are in place.

I am advised that Wind Farm Community Benefit is normally activated once the wind turbine is operational. However, while none of the above have been commissioned to date, I understand that Coillte has begun to activate the Community Benefit during construction stage of two of its projects, namely Sliabh Bawn Wind Farm and Raheenleagh Wind Farm.