Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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49. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures his Department has taken to extend or (re)negotiate State aid for the renewable electricity support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17833/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is pivotal to the achievement of Ireland’s target of generating 80% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030. RESS consists of a series of competitive auctions, four onshore and one offshore to date, in which successful applicants are offered a two-way support arrangement for a period of 15 years.

State Aid approval for the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) was granted in 2020 for a period of five years up to the end of 2025. Officials from my Department are currently engaging with counterparts in the Directorate-General for Competition of the European Commission in relation to an extension request to this State Aid decision.

This work is ongoing. If granted, such an extension would provide for auctions to take place beyond the end of this year under the current decision, in line with the Programme for Government commitment to an annual auction cycle. My Department will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders on proposals for future auctions as this work progresses.

In addition, as part of the RESS State Aid Decision, Ireland is required to complete an Evaluation Report and submit it to the European Commission. Work is underway on the Evaluation Report which will cover areas such as competition, technology diversity, delivery rates and community measures and will provide the basis for a State Aid notification for a future revised scheme.