Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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194. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to provide grants or financial assistance to persons erecting windfarms with a view to generating energy for the national grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26968/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The renewable electricity support scheme, RESS, has been established to support delivery of Ireland's 70% renewable electricity target by 2020.

The RESS is a competitive auction-based scheme which invites renewable electricity generation projects, including wind farms, to bid for capacity and receive a guaranteed price for the electricity they generate for up to 16.5 years. The RESS also includes broader policy objectives such as technology diversification and support for community ownership and participation. The results of the first RESS auction were published on 10 September 2020. 13 wind farm projects were successful in the auction along with 62 solar energy projects and 7 community owned projects.

Other financial supports are available for wind projects. These include tax based incentives for the development of renewable technologies such as the Accelerated Capital Allowances Scheme and the Employment and Inves​tment Incentive.

As part of delivering the RESS project, and in consultation with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, my officials are exploring a variety of capacity building supports, including grants for community-led projects such as wind and solar farms.