Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
123. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment when he expects the review regarding the interaction between the small-scale renewable electricity support scheme (SRESS) tariffs and Community Enabling Grants to conclude; and if he will provide a timeline for the introduction of Community Enabling Grants under SRESS. [47139/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra125. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the categories of project development costs he expects will remain eligible for Community Enabling Grant support under SRESS following the completion of the ongoing review. [47141/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra126. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if consideration is being given to a transitional arrangement for community renewable energy projects that incurred costs in good faith in anticipation of the introduction of Community Enabling Grants under SRESS. [47142/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra127. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether he has assessed the impact on community renewable energy projects, including the Blackrock renewable energy community in County Louth, which have already incurred significant development costs while awaiting the introduction of SRESS Community Enabling Grants. [47143/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra128. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of community renewable energy projects nationwide that have incurred development costs in anticipation of accessing Community Enabling Grant funding under SRESS; and the estimated value of those costs. [47144/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra131. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if SEAI has been instructed to advise communities that have already incurred project development costs regarding their eligibility for future Community Enabling Grants under SRESS. [47147/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra133. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he accepts that community renewable energy groups were encouraged to progress projects on the understanding that Community Enabling Grants would form part of the SRESS support framework; the reason projects that have already incurred costs are now at risk of receiving no grant support; and the measures he intends to introduce to address this situation. [47149/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 125, 126, 127, 128, 131 and 133 together.
The Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS) Community Enabling Framework, launched in 2022, provides a range of supports including an accompanying Community Enabling Grant of funding of potentially up to €180,000, offered by SEAI to community renewable energy projects to help them participate in the RESS.
Since January 2025, support for community projects has transitioned to the non-competitive Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS).
With the exception of the Community Enabling Grants, all of the other supports that were available under the SEAI RESS Community Enabling Framework are now available to communities under SRESS.
SEAI’s website also provides 9 free information guides covering key aspects including community groups and governance, grid and planning permission issues, stakeholder engagement and business planning. SEAI has also provided 13 county-level grid studies to assist communities in identifying economically viable grid connection sites.
In addition, the SRESS community solar tariffs provide a significant premium to communities over RESS prices.
My Department is currently assessing the interaction between the SRESS tariffs and proposed accompanying grants to ensure that these do not constitute 'double funding' or cumulation of aid under EU State Aid rules. To protect against that risk, my Department has commissioned an independent technical review as part of the tariff review to ensure certainty in terms of State aid compliance. The review will also allow my Department to determine whether and how accompanying grants can be legally provided alongside the tariff. This work is currently underway and is expected to be completed later this year, with a decision on the reinstatement of these grants expected thereafter.
It is not possible to confirm the structure of any grants in advance of the SRESS tariff review findings and no instructions have been issued to SEAI on project development costs. However, under the previous RESS Community Enabling Grant, retrospective costs, that is costs already incurred by the project prior to grant letter of offer, were not eligible and this may also be a feature of any future community enabling grants in SRESS. Furthermore, SEAI only advised projects that it viewed to be economically viable to proceed.
My Department does not hold a register of the number of community renewable energy projects nationwide nor details of those that have incurred development costs.
