Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy McAuliffe for the amendments. I engaged with Wind Energy Ireland and spoke at its conference previously. Unquestionably, a great resource is already in place. If we go back to the 2006 wind energy guidelines, which set 20-year timelines, and I will come back to the Deputy's specific amendment on that, we can certainly do more. That is why it is not just about onshore but offshore. That is why we worked hard for the creation of MARA, the single consenting process that is there, and the establishment of an expert section within An Bord Pleanála. Undoubtedly, there are many offshore renewables we can harness. In the context of energy stability and energy security in particular, and the climate challenges the State faces, it is absolutely appropriate that we do everything we can to continue to unlock this potential.

I will speak to Deputy McAuliffe's amendment first and will then deal with Deputy Ó Broin's questions on the broader point of where Government thinking is. This amendment deals with existing wind farms in place that already have a condition with regard to the lifespan of those wind farms. To speak to Deputy Ó Broin's point, when these wind farms were granted permission, people had engaged in a process that was very clear with regard to the lifetime of this. What I said in my response to the Deputy was that in recognising that many of these wind farms are in place, will continue to be in place and may be upgraded as part of it, there is a process they can go through, by way of a new application, to extend that particular lifespan. On balance, that is the appropriate thing to do for existing infrastructure where a timeframe condition was given.

That was the condition that was granted. It is a legal condition of the planning permission and it is important for people in the locality and others who engaged with the process. It is not simply about extending it through primary legislation. While I fully understand the points behind it and what is being proposed, it would effectively mean that granted permissions would be extended and that would be potentially open to challenge. Having said that, a process is in place for people to seek an extension through the planning process.

There is a process and standard procedure for decommissioning. Some cases are more problematic than others. One case was the subject of infringements with the EU Commission and even the decommissioning of that site would require the seeking of permission regarding how it would be decommissioned because of the issues with what happened on that site, the topography of the site and how it could be affected in the future. There are complexities around it.

Turning to the main point, the new wind energy guidelines that are due to be published are crucial. With the advancement of technology that Deputy Ó Broin correctly spoke about and in the area of noise, it is important we get the guidelines published. Some work is being done in relation to noise in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. That will form the approach of the Department's publication and further consultation with it. I urge that work be concluded as expeditiously as possible because, with the new technologies that exist, the guidelines that are in place need to be updated. That is recognised and a lot of work has been done in that space in my Department and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Some further work is being done with respect to noise that I believe will conclude soon. It is not in my Department. That will address the Deputies' points about what the future will look like, especially in respect of onshore wind and the lifespan of granted permissions. I do not have an exact timeframe for those guidelines yet. I will endeavour during our meetings to get an update from colleagues in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications on when they expect them to be published because they are important. Is it appropriate with newer technology to set a lifespan for what is a significant investment and an important part of our energy infrastructure? We are improving the percentage of power generated through renewable sources all the time and that is important. Lifespan is important and we will be guided in that area by the wind energy guidelines. I will get an update for the committee that we can discuss, as there is a full section on this. I have asked officials to do so.

To be helpful, I might digress for a moment. I will take this opportunity to speak about additional resources on the planning side, which was mentioned earlier. I have the figures from 2023 onwards. I will get them for the period 2020 to 2023. Since 2023, 93 additional posts have been approved in An Bord Pleanála, of which 78 have been filled and 15 have not. There are some specialist roles within that. At the end of February, there were 261 staff in An Bord Pleanála, which is the highest number we have had, which is good. I had the pleasure of meeting many of them recently when I spoke to staff a number of weeks ago.

These figures are since September 2023. I have not given the starting point, which I will give tomorrow if we can get the information. Since September 2023, there have been 100 new posts in local authorities and as of January 2024, the most recent date for which I have figures, 32 had been filled. Once they are all filled, a further 100 new posts will be approved for local authorities. I will get the details for 2021 and 2022 as well so the committee can see where we started and where we are now. I had said I would give that information to the committee.