Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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28. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding or technical support his Department offers to farmers that wish to form a renewable energy co-operative. [60397/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am acutely aware of the role that farmers in particular can play in helping to achieve our ambitious national emission reduction targets for the energy sector through the adoption of renewable energy generating technology.

Adoption of renewable energy at farm level can serve as both a cost saving measure and can also provide an opportunity for diversification of income and activity.

While my colleague Minister Eamon Ryan in the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) has lead responsibility for energy policy, including renewable energy policy I continue to support farmers in their adoption of renewable energy technology systems through the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) programme.

Under this scheme farmers can qualify for grant aid of between 40%-60% for a suite of different cost saving renewable technologies such as LED lighting, solar panels, biomass heaters and variable speed drives for milking plants.

While the provision of funding and technical support to farmers interested in forming a renewable energy co-operative is outside of the remit of my Department, I would encourage any community group interested in this area to contact the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) who specialise in community energy projects including the provision of information, funding, and technical support, specifically through the Sustainable Energy Communities Programme.