Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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783. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there is a service level agreement, in number of days, for the planning process for renewable energy projects from design through to operation (details supplied); and the way in which these service level agreements compare with the UK and Germany. [31050/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Renewable electricity projects are subject to a number of separate processes relating to planning requirements, grid connection and financial support.  These processes differ across jurisdictions in Europe where planning laws, grid access rules and funding arrangements are not necessarily comparable.

Planning applications in Ireland are generally made to the relevant local planning authority with a right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála (the Board).  Applications for larger wind energy projects (with 25 turbines and above or having a total output greater than 50 megawatts) are made directly to the Board under Strategic Infrastructure Development system. Planning authorities normally decide planning application within 8 weeks. Where an appeal is lodged with the Board in relation to a planning decision by a local authority, the Board has a statutory objective to determine the matter within 18 weeks.  For Strategic Infrastructure Development generally, the Board has an objective to make a decision on applications within a period of 18 weeks.

Renewable electricity projects that are eligible for financial support under the Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff that is administered by my Department must adhere to applicable timelines in relation to the furnishing of relevant permissions and consents, as well as deadlines for connecting to the electricity grid.

The processing of applications to the electricity grid is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The CRU, ESB Networks and EirGrid are working to develop a programme for issuing new connection offers under the revised Enduring Connection Policy (ECP-1) rules. This programme includes the scheduling of individual and grouped grid connections.

The scheduling of grid delivery for specific projects is dependent on parameters such as geographical location, network capacity, operational conditions and the requirement for network reinforcements, which is assessed on a case by case basis. I understand that, insofar as possible, ESB Networks co-ordinates its connection works with developer project timelines, to align generator delivery schedules with proposed energisation dates. The timelines for works associated with an individual generator's connection to the grid depends on the connection method and associated works required for that connection.

Finally, timescales for the funding of renewable energy projects are a commercial matter for project developers.