Sinn Féin spokesperson on Climate Justice, Senator Lynn Boylan, has said that the government’s introduction of a scheme for communities and farmers was long overdue.

But responding to the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS), the European election candidate for Dublin expressed concern that there are still serious blockages to unlocking the benefits of the transition to deliver for ordinary people.

She added that the government’s focus has been on ensuring multinational corporations can exploit our renewable resources, while community groups and farmers had to go to the back of the queue for supports.

Senator Boylan said:

“While the journey to net zero brings about real challenges, it also creates immense opportunity. With our vast natural resources, we can ensure the benefits are felt at the kitchen table, not just the boardroom table.

“Unlike successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments, Sinn Féin’s vision for the decarbonisation of our economy and society places fairness at the forefront of our solutions.

“A scheme for community and farming renewables is long overdue, and is something I have been calling for. But I am concerned that the amounts offered are too low to really unleash the potential of the transition to benefit farmers and communities.

“Government focus has been on ensuring multinational corporations can exploit our renewable resources, while community groups and farmers had to go to the back of the queue for a support scheme.

“For too long, there has been a gap in support for communities and farmers, between the individual rooftop solar grants and the commercial-scale supports through RESS auctions. Communities and farmers fall between two stools.

“The community groups I talk to tell me about the immense challenges they face in getting access to the grid in a timely and affordable manner as well as accessing suitable finance.

“The government must sit down with these groups and farmers trying to deliver renewables and come up with ways to get through these blockages. Without addressing these issues, we are not going to unlock the massive potential that exists.

“The government has consistently underestimated the potential of communities to deliver in the transition. In December 2021, the ESB opened a pilot for mini-generators of electricity. It was massively oversubscribed yet here we are in 2024 and only now is the full project getting off the ground.

“To really capitalise on the benefits for communities, we need to make sure there are proper wrap-around services to get community and farming renewables groups off the ground.

“Unfortunately, while the government has allocated capital funding for community groups, it simply isn’t being drawn down. As much as €180,000 in funding is available for each group through the SEAI, no group has been able to draw down that amount, as revealed through PQ. Only two were able to draw down €40,000.

“This demonstrates the lack of political will to deliver community renewable energy. Targets are fixed, schemes are set up and funding is allocated, but when nothing happens, there is no follow-through to find out why the schemes aren’t working.

“Developing our vast natural resources must translate into national wealth for all. That is why Sinn Féin’s alternative budget sought to expand community ownership of renewables.

“Sinn Féin has the vision, ambition and determination to decarbonise our economies and societies. If the transition is not just, there simply won’t be a transition.

“We can achieve this transition while simultaneously ensuring that no one is left behind.”