Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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555. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to extend the closing date of the REFIT 3 scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29547/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The REFIT 3 scheme closed to new applicants on the 31 December 2015.  As the REFIT closing date approached late last year, it was decided to offer a degree of flexibility for applicants who had submitted applications to the department before the closing date, but still were waiting on planning decisions or grid connection offers. These projects were given until 31 December 2016 to become compliant with the support scheme.

On 30 September 2016, I took the administrative decision to offer some additional flexibility to these projects to secure financing and become operational. These REFIT 3 projects now have until 30 September 2017 to provide evidence of financing to my Department and must now be operational by 30 September 2019.

This decision does not extend the support scheme nor does it extend the back-end date of REFIT3, and therefore will not add further cost to the overall Public Service Obligation (PSO).  The decision will however assist in reaching our renewable energy targets and thus help to minimise the risk of facing penalties for non-compliance and/or the cost of purchasing renewable energy/statistical transfers from other Member States.

This decision is available on my Department's website at www.dccae.gov.ie.