Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I fully agree with him. This area offers huge opportunities from a renewability and renewable energy perspective but also from an employment perspective. The Deputy referenced the maritime areas and the Maritime Area Planning Act that came into force in the last number of years. Having been a member of the joint committee on housing and planning, that was something I was very involved in. There is huge potential to create jobs in key areas like Cork, the Shannon Estuary and along the east coast. It gives us an opportunity to develop new jobs and skills outside of Ireland in a way that provides us with the ability to invest and recoup energy from renewable sources.

We have in the Department an expert group on future skills needs which is finalising its work plan for 2025. Offshore wind is a key area it is specifically looking at. We also have a feasibility study under way for the offshore wind energy centre, and we expect to have it completed next year. This is a huge priority area for the Government, the Department of energy and climate and also our Department from an employment perspective. The Deputy raised some good ideas with regard to his constituency, which he knows very well. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this issue further with him.