Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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922. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the changes that are being proposed to solar panel application grants for farm building roofs; if his attention has been drawn to the problems of securing feedback tariffs from the ESB to ensure a viable regeneration proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17786/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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While overall national energy policy formation is the direct responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), my Department continuously engages with DECC on all energy related matters from an agricultural perspective, as well as a wide range of industry and other stakeholder groupings.

Minister Eamon Ryan, Minister for Environment, Climate Action and Communications launched the microgeneration support scheme in December 2021. This support scheme provides a range of supports to assist homes and businesses, including farmers to develop renewable generation for self-consumption with the micro-generation enabling framework introduces payments to micro-generators for exported electricity for the first time. This scheme will support the deployment of an expected 380 MW of new micro (50 kW) to support the deployment of rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV.

The Climate Action Plan 2021 recognises the important contribution of microgeneration to the decarbonisation of the energy system and commits to delivering a Microgeneration Policy Framework (see Action 105), led by my ministerial colleague Eamon Ryan. Specifically, this action will address the development and trialling of a streamlined grid connection pathway for installation sizes up to 50Kw. I do believe that farmers can positively contribute to this energy transition and I continue to engage with ministerial colleagues in the Department of Environment, Climate Action and Communication in this regard and on other energy-related matters.

To encourage on-farm renewable technology uptake and usage, grant aid is provided through TAMS in my Department to assist farmers in maximising their contribution to the production of renewable energy through the installation of Solar PV technology along with battery storage on Irish farms. The solar PV systems grant-aided under TAMS include Solar PV Panels and Solar PV Rechargeable Batteries and Solar Panels for water heating under the Pig and Poultry Capital Investment Scheme. Grant aid for solar investments in TAMS is for farm consumption use only.