Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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250. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason no coherent Government strategy or guidelines on the development of solar energy farms have been provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25260/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to facilitate the development of solar energy in Ireland. This builds on the 2015 Energy White Paper and recognises that solar has the potential to provide a community dividend, thereby also enhancing citizen participation in Ireland's energy future. My Department is currently developing a proposed new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contributions out to 2030. Analysis is on-going on a range of technologies to be included. This analysis includes an assessment of the cost of supporting Solar Photovoltaics - both rooftop and ground-mounted.

The new scheme design requires detailed economic analysis on the viability and cost effectiveness of supporting several renewable technologies at various scales. This analysis is currently underway. Once this work is complete, my Department will publish a final public consultation on the design of the new support scheme. Details will be advertised on my Department's website at .  There will be several decisions to be made on this new scheme with regard to scale, technologies and, in particular, how communities will have a greater involvement than in previous schemes.

Before any new scheme is introduced, it will need to secure Government approval and State Aid clearance from the European Commission.  Subject to this, it is expected that the new scheme will become operational in the first half of 2018

In relation to spatial planning, any decision to introduce Solar Planning Guidelines are ultimately a matter for the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.