Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I will return to the points Senator Cummins made earlier. It is important to express the confidence we have in delivering 5 GW of offshore energy and likely 2 GW to 3 GW of solar capacity plus the 4 GW to 5 GW of onshore energy. We introduced one of the most complex and biggest pieces of planning legislation that went through this committee last year in terms of the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 to be able to provide that fit-for-purpose planning system. In fact, the planning Bill today introduces changes that will facilitate the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, and facilitate some of that design flexibility that is probably required in it. We just need to be careful that the environmental impact assessments can take account of that design flexibility. What we do not want to do is create further uncertainty in it. There is progress on it, however. Planning permission was given for the Youghal interconnector and recently for the onshore cable at Arklow Bank phase 2. There is, therefore, quite good progress in that area.

I will briefly return to some questions. This will probably be the final input unless Senator Cummins wishes to come in. Assistance to local authorities to deal with maritime area plans for their jurisdiction goes out 3 km or 3 miles. Have they put their hands up for assistance to deal with that? I know there will not be that many applications but what is the thought process for local authorities to be able to assess environmental impact assessments for an area with which they would not necessarily have been that familiar before?