Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1788. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans introduce a new price support scheme in respect of renewable energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28606/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Programme for Government sets out that Ireland’s long-term interests are best supported by further decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels through the continued development of renewable electricity generation. This is underpinned by the Energy White Paper which sets out a framework that will guide policy in the energy sector from now until 2030. It sets a vision of reducing emissions from the energy system by between 80-95% by 2050.  My Department is currently developing a proposed new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) designed to assist in meeting our renewable electricity targets out to 2030. This will be guided by the direction of European policy as set out in the Clean Energy Package that is currently under negotiation.

A detailed economic assessment of a range of renewable electricity generating technologies is currently underway and a public consultation on certain design principles of the proposed new RESS will be published next month. Details of this second and final public consultation will be advertised on the Department’s website . The introduction of any new scheme - including the overall costs and technologies to be supported - will be subject to Government approval and State Aid clearance from the European Commission.

It is expected that the new scheme will open for applications in 2018.