Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1753. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure that the same financial rules and regulations apply to a State-owned company that decides to develop solar farms on State owned lands to ensure that private solar farm developers are not disadvantaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27085/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The 2016 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 and It is increasingly recognised that Solar PV has the potential to contribute to meeting Ireland’s renewable energy and climate change objectives 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, at various scales.

A public consultation on the design elements of the new RESS will be published shortly, and subject to Government approval and EU State Aid clearance, it is expected the new scheme will be open for new applications in 2018.

Any solar farm developer applying to the new scheme for support, will do so on a commercial and competitive basis, and the same planning, grid connection and pre-qualifying criteria will apply to all projects equally.