Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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119. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the community projects under RESS 1 and RESS 2; his plans to publish any analysis carried out by his Department into the operation of the community category in RESS 1 and RESS 2, particularly in light of the decision to discontinue the community category under RESS 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28822/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Through the RESS 1 and RESS 2 competitions, my Department provided pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects through the application of a community projects preference category and also through the requirement of a mandatory community benefit fund. A Community projects preference category has not been included RESS 3; rather, support for communities for the development of renewable projects will now transition to the non-competitive Small-Scale Generation Scheme (SSGS), which is due to be launched later this year.

This scheme will align more closely to the experience and capacity of the community energy sector and ensure that a more sustainable delivery of the renewable energy community target of 500 MW by 2030. The scheme aims to provide specific support for renewable electricity generators who are too large for the MSS but too small for the RESS. The SSGS will provide a simpler route to market for community projects.

In total, 7 community projects were successful in the RESS 1 auction, 4 projects remain in progress and are either energised or due to energise this year. In RESS 2, 8 community projects were successful in the auction, are continuing to progress and are expected to energise by end of 2025.

My Department will retain the mandatory community benefit fund in RESS 3 whereby contracted projects must contribute €2/MWh to a local community benefit fund for every MWh generated.