Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and thank him for his visit to Athlone. It was great to see the first electric bus in one of the first regional spots outside the city in Dublin. Of course, we also have our brand new cycle way so they will be bussing and cycling it all through the midlands and into the west.

I really appreciate the Minister being here to speak on wind energy. As has been mentioned many times Ireland's maritime area is seven times larger than its land mass. It is great when one looks at that map and sees the real strength of what Ireland is and what it has to offer in terms of renewable energy. I welcome that the Minister has noted clearly in frameworks that coastal and marine communities are really going to benefit. In other words, even before the construction of these turbines and wind farms, the communities involved will benefit from a community fund.

I know the Government has approved the terms and conditions of the first offshore wind auction. Are there any further updates on this? Do I understand correctly that the maritime area consent, MAC, the Minister gave prior to Christmas is allowing seven different projects? Is there any further update on that or is there a way where any other groups will come in under this MAC prior to the start of the new maritime area regulatory authority? It is so important and crucial, as has been mentioned already, to develop offshore wind, particularly in the west and in the Atlantic.It is important for the communities in those areas. It is about supporting jobs and communities. That is crucial and it is what I see in the delivery of renewable energy for a country that has been experiencing tight energy supplies over the past year.

The networks for net zero strategy from ESB Networks has set clear targets for what they company sees coming up to 2050, as far as I am aware. Would the Minister like to comment on that? I apologise, as there was no hand-out of the Minister’s speech earlier. I do not know if that can be emailed to us, but we did not receive a hand-out of it. The Minister mentioned SACs and SPAs that are required from the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, before any further decisions can be made. I do not know whether he can comment on that. We have many in the west. I know this relates more to onshore energy, but the Minister might comment on SACs and SPAs.

Finally, in the west, it is Derrybrien in Galway, and in Gort. There has been much debate with our councillors in Galway County Council around this and everything that has happened. I do not know if the Minister can comment on whether the turbines are being taken down and what sort environmental impact that may have on the local area. There are so many wishes for what has happened and what should never have happened in terms of the peat slides. However, now that it is in place, what will be done to protect the environment? In addition, there are many turbines currently in Derrybrien.