Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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312. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans for the State to directly supply infrastructure for renewable energies, namely solar, wind and wave and tidal power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44832/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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My Department is currently developing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which is being designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contribution to EU-wide targets out to 2030. The design of the new scheme has included an extensive independent economic appraisal. This appraisal compared the cost of supporting a range of commercial renewable technologies, including Solar PV, Wind (both onshore and offshore) and Ocean technologies (including Wave and Tidal), at various scales, to ensure that the new scheme delivers value for money for energy users whilst also delivering on the energy pillars of sustainability and security of supply. The assessment also included analysis of the optimum financial support mechanisms for renewable technologies, in line with the 2014 EU State Aid Guidelines.

The new RESS will also provide opportunities to deliver on the 2015 Energy White Paper commitment to ensure communities and citizens are at the centre of the future energy transition in Ireland. Communities are effectively being designed into the fabric of the new scheme and a comprehensive assessment of polices and support measures to increase community ownership from renewable electricity projects has been undertaken. The most effective policies to increase community ownership and participation in renewable electricity projects have been assessed and examined within an Irish context.

Apublic consultation on the design principles of the proposed new RESS was launched on 4 September and submissions are invited from the public. All submissions received by the closing date of 3 November will be considered and following on from this final public consultation, a design proposal will be brought to Government for approval. Full details of the consultation are available on my Department’s website at: www.dccae.gov.ie

Electricity grid connections are an operational matter for the national grid system operators in conjunction with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). I do not have any function in the matter. However, I note that the CRU has been working closely with system operators to develop a new connection process and will be consulting on the proposed new rules in the next number of weeks.