Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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146. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there is any recompense for a community living in the shadow of a wind farm in County Donegal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41904/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Wind energy projects are complex developments that require full and proper assessment by the relevant planning authority or An Bord Pleanála (the Board). In making decisions on a planning application for any type of development, including a wind energy development, a planning authority, or the Board as appropriate, must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to the provisions of the local development plan, any submissions or observations received from the public and the statutory consultees, and any relevant Ministerial or Government policies as well as any planning guidelines issued by my Department.

In accordance with section 34 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended, it is a matter for the relevant planning authority to consider each application for planning permission, on a case-by-case basis and to decide whether to grant permission, subject to or without conditions, or to refuse permission. The enforcement of conditions attached to a grant of planning permission is a matter for the relevant planning authority.

The current Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006 do not provide guidance relating to community dividend or benefit however, my Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Guidelines and is looking at, inter alia, community dividend and community benefit in this regard. In line with the “preferred draft approach” underpinning the review, the draft Guidelines recommend wind energy developers take steps to ensure that the proposed development will be of enduring economic or social benefit to the communities concerned.

Supplementary to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines, the Code of Practice for Wind Energy Development in Ireland - Guidelines for Community Engagement published by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) sets out to ensure that wind energy development in Ireland is undertaken in observance with the best industry practices, and with the full engagement of communities around the Country.

Further to this, a key element in the Government’s plan to 2030 meet renewable energy targets is the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), characterised by a series of competitive auctions, four to date held in 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Successful applicants in the auction are offered a two-way support arrangement for a period of 15 years, this arrangement guarantees developers and consumers a stable electricity price for that period. The scheme is funded by consumers via the Public Service Obligation (PSO).

As part of the requirements to obtain RESS support, generators are required to pay into a community benefit fund to be used for the wider economic, environmental, social and cultural well-being of the local community. The rate of payment into the fund is set at €2/MWh for all generation projects. The associated Terms and Conditions specify the mandatory distribution of these monies, setting a minimum payment for near neighbours within 1 kilometre. The Community Benefit Fund could decide to pay neighbours located between 1 and 2 kilometres.

Local projects to be supported by the Community Benefit Fund are decided upon by the members of the Fund Committee, consisting of a number of volunteer community representatives, the generator and the administrator. Individual Community Benefit Funds need to submit an annual report to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) including details of how the funds have been spent. Further information is available on this website: .

Residents living in the proximity of a RESS project with a query about the disbursal of funds should, in the first instance, contact the SEAI Community Benefit Fund Team at .