Gillian Toole (Meath East, Independent)
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99. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development what forward planning and communication occurs intra- and inter-departmentally for balanced integration of renewable energy projects within rural areas, such projects having wide ranging effects on rural and community life and development. [14525/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for policy and planning of renewable energy projects is a matter for the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Indeed, I am informed that that Department recently ran a public consultation process on the operation of community benefit funds under the renewable electricity support scheme. That consultation sought views with regard to how local communities benefit from renewable energy projects, providing the public with an opportunity to input on how they see such a scheme providing the most benefit to communities. There are a number of actions within Our Rural Future relating to maximizing the potential of renewable energy generation for rural and coastal communities. This is an area of significant potential for rural areas in the context of both climate change and increasing energy costs. While these actions are the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, officials within my Department engage with officials from that Department through the regular reporting on implementation of Our Rural Future.

The process of developing a successor to Our Rural Future will include extensive engagement with other Departments, including in relation to the role of renewable energy for the rural economy and communities. I would also note that significant decisions with regard to energy infrastructure would be discussed at Government. This provides me, along with other Ministers, the opportunity to ensure the impact of any proposed decisions on rural communities are fully considered.