Ms Claragh Mulhern:

We have been discussing that further with our colleagues in the Department of the environment. Looking at it from the perspective of housing targets, through both the draft revised NPF and the legislation, there has been a great deal of discussion of targets. It is clearly the intention not to see them as caps.

In the context of the renewable electricity capacity allocations set out here, it is not to be seen as a cap but as something to work towards. In terms of the further detail that will come with the national planning statement, we will look at how that is set out to be applied by the regional assemblies and local authorities in how it is considered in the plan-making and, ultimately, the decision-making processes. I will again give the parallel example of housing. When you look at the NPF and the housing supply target methodology that is already in use, there is a methodology for applying a certain amount of headroom. There is further detail to be worked through on these particular allocations, but it is the direction of travel. These are to be worked towards and they are not caps.