Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 June 2026
19. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the community benefit fund or direct financial benefit that will be made available to residents living in proximity to the proposed Longford wind turbine. [44607/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government sets out the commitment to ensuring that communities hosting renewable energy projects directly benefit from those developments, including through community gain arrangements.
For onshore wind projects supported under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), there are clear community benefit requirements. Each project receiving support under RESS is required to establish a Community Benefit Fund, with contributions set at a minimum of €2 per megawatt hour of electricity generated.
These Funds are intended to support social, environmental, educational, cultural and recreational initiatives in the local area. In this way, these Funds ensure that tangible benefits are delivered in the areas where renewable electricity projects are located.
Additionally, RESS-supported onshore wind projects provide for direct annual payments to households living in closest proximity to the project. These near neighbour payments recognise, in a practical and direct way, the role played by local communities in hosting renewable energy infrastructure, and help to ensure that local communities close to such projects can benefit from their development.
Where an onshore wind project is not supported under RESS, the same mandatory RESS Community Benefit Fund requirements do not apply. However, some renewable projects operate voluntary Community Benefit Funds outside of RESS. I strongly encourage all renewable electricity developers to engage early, openly and constructively with local communities and to put in place meaningful community benefit arrangements equivalent to those under the RESS.
Well-designed community benefit funds can provide lasting local value, support community-led initiatives, and help ensure that the benefits of renewable electricity development are visible to the communities most directly connected with these projects.
