Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1673. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding wind farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25042/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Energy White Paper published last December sets out a coherent high-level framework for Ireland’s energy transition to a low carbon system and society and identifies a range of measures to support this aim.  In addition, the Programme for Government commits to updating the Wind Energy Development Guidelines by November this year to offer a better balance between the concerns of local communities and the need to invest in indigenous energy projects. The clear focus of my Department is on implementing the range of actions set out in the White Paper to meet our energy and climate change targets through cost efficient policies. Among the commitments to achieve the energy transition are to:

- support community participation in renewable energy,

- provide funding and supports for community-led projects in the initial stages of development, planning and construction, 

- develop a framework for agreeing how communities share in the benefits of substantial new energy infrastructure located in their area, and

- support the emerging energy cooperative movement as one means of facilitating community participation.

I am well aware that some communities across the country are concerned about the impact of wind farm developments, and that is why I am committed to putting in place mechanisms to ensure that the views of communities and citizens are taken into account as Ireland continues to transition to a low carbon society.  In addition, I am proposing to examine measures to ensure that communities and citizens can participate in and benefit from renewable energy projects in their locality.

Furthermore, my Department is currently developing a Renewable Electricity Policy and Development Framework which is intended to provide guidance to citizens, industry, An Bord Pleanála, and other public authorities, for use in conjunction with the Wind Energy Development Guidelines. This work will set a clear framework for the development of renewable energy infrastructure into the future.

The delivery of projects to achieve our energy objectives cuts across several sectors, including: government, finance, regulation, engineering and the planning system. While I understand the need for each of these independent strands to work  coherently, it is difficult to see how these strands could be merged effectively under one agency.

Onshore wind continues to be the main contributor to Ireland’s renewable energy target and in 2015 met 21% of Ireland’s electricity needs. It is a proven technology and results in a lower cost of support for consumers. While wind generation remains the dominant renewable generation technology in Ireland, the current Renewable Energy Feed-in-Tariff (REFIT) schemes do support a range of other renewable electricity technologies including hydro, biomass combustion, biomass combined heat and power, and landfill gas, which together met around 5% of Ireland's electricity needs in 2015. 

While I see wind playing a role in Ireland’s future energy transition, I am also mindful of the need to diversify our renewable generation portfolio; to this end, my Department is working on a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme which is expected in 2017.  The new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme will seek to further encourage the development of Ireland’s abundant and indigenous renewable energy resources. This scheme will examine the viability of supporting a range of new renewable energy technologies in Ireland - including solar, bioenergy and ocean energy – and will help to further reduce emissions in the electricity sector.