Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I refer to the reply to Question Nos 110 of 28 November 2023 and 23 of 29 November 2023.

The project specified is part of the Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff (REFIT) Scheme, which closed for new applicants in 2015; this scheme does not include a specific requirement to establish a Community Benefit Fund.

The current Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), which commenced in 2020, and Offshore RESS (ORESS) projects are required to establish a Community Benefit Fund to be used for the wider economic, environmental, social and cultural well-being of the local community. The contribution is set at €2 per Megawatt hour of generation of the RESS Project. This means real and quantifiable funds being made available annually by RESS projects for the benefit of local communities.

The Community Benefit Fund National Register, which is managed by the SEAI, is available on the SEAI website at cbfnationalregister.seai.ie.

Renewable energy industry bodies recommend the establishment of a local community fund by all new renewable energy projects as part of their best practice principles to community engagement.

Furthermore, my Department's Roadmap on Renewable Electricity Corporate Power Purchase Agreements recommends that parties engaged in CPPAs should include a level of community benefit, through contributions or investment in communities similar to those supported under RESS.