Matthews - Wicklow communities to benefit from up to €20 million per year from offshore wind community benefit fund

The coastal and marine communities of Arklow, Bray, Wicklow Town and Greystones are in line to benefit significantly from offshore renewable electricity projects, says Green Party TD for Wicklow Steven Matthews. Under the framework published by the Minister Eamon Ryan TD, generators of offshore wind are required to make substantial annual contributions to community benefit funds (CBF). Examples of projects and initiatives that cab be funded through CBFs include scholarships, community centres, energy upgrades in sports clubs and community centres, education programmes and disability access projects.

A key feature of framework is that generators must start making contributions from the initial stages of the offshore wind project, i.e., prior to commencing operation. This means that coastal and marine communities could start to benefit from as early as 2025 and could look forward to receiving benefits for up to 25 years in total.

The community benefit fund process has been collaboratively developed following extensive consultation with communities and industry. This has been supported throughout by the participation of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), which will be providing a critical role in the monitoring and compliance of the funds. 

Deputy Matthews said, “Towns like Bray and Greystones and Wicklow will play a vital role in the development of renewable electricity in Ireland and help us meet our commitments under the Climate Plan. There are many benefits to the development of offshore wind; as well as the creation of jobs and knock on effects to the local economies, the community benefit fund will directly benefit the communities in Co. Wicklow that will be central to realising our renewable energy ambitions.

“Never has it been more vital that we use our vast offshore wind resource to create renewable energy and ensure the security of our own energy supply. The development of our offshore wind energy capacity will eventually eradicate our dependence on imported fossil fuels and bring an unprecedented reduction in CO2 emissions for a climate neutral future,” concluded Deputy Matthews.