Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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I will return to the issue of planning and the relationship with the CAROs and local government. One theme that came up in various meetings was the challenge of delivering renewables at the scale that will be required. It seems to me that it is every form of renewable - onshore wind, solar and off-shore wind. One area for the CAROs is the prospect of local authority renewable energy strategies. The Planning Regulator has appeared before this committee.

Various people at different forums have expressed concerns such as, for example, about the amount of land available to develop onshore wind energy. The prospect of zoning areas as suitable in the context of the development of renewable energy gas been mooted. I have a broad question on the challenge of delivering renewables at scale and the types of changes involved, such as in terms of planning processes. For example, we know there is a lack of regulation and updated guidelines in respect of onshore wind. We do not have any for solar. This creates an environment that is not healthy for planning because it leads to developer-led speculation in what is already a challenging planning environment. It makes it even more challenging. This is my perspective. What is the sense of the witnesses about what needs to change to deliver renewables at the scale they are needed?