Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The energy White Paper presents a long-term strategic vision that is intended to guide the direction of Irish energy policy from now until 2030. At its heart is a commitment to transform Ireland into a low-carbon society and economy by 2050 and reduce the country’s fossil fuel dependency. The programme for partnership Government also commits to reducing our import dependency while maintaining energy security and affordability, and reducing energy related emissions.The development of renewable energy in Ireland via a range of technology specific supports is one of the best ways to encourage this transition and diversify our energy generation portfolio. This is why my Department introduced a renewable energy feed-in tariff, REFIT, scheme across a range of different renewable electricity technologies, including onshore wind, hydro generation and bioenergy. A new renewable electricity support scheme which is currently under development will seek to further diversify this technology mix.

While my Department provides the high-level strategic direction and policy supports to encourage renewable energy development, a number of separate agencies and bodies have a role in the promotion and development of renewable energy projects in Ireland. For example, the development of any renewable project, including wind, requires planning permission from the relevant local planning authority or An Bord Pleanála, as appropriate. Planning permission is a matter between the developer of a renewable project and the relevant planning authority, subject to the planning Acts. Under section 7 of the Planning and Development Act, each planning authority must maintain a detailed register of all planning applications and decisions made. An Bord Pleanála also maintains a register of cases determined by the board, which is available at

A renewable energy project also requires an authorisation to construct or reconstruct a generating station and a licence to generate from the Commission for Energy Regulation. Applications for authorisations and licences are assessed by the CER ahead of the granting or refusing of an application for planning permission. The conditions imposed by the Regulator must be met by the generator, and compliance is monitored by the CER on an ongoing basis.EirGrid and ESB Networks have a role to ensure that projects can connect to the electricity network and that the renewable energy project can be operated securely on the network for the benefit of all consumers.

The legally separate but interrelated regulatory, planning and operational decisions that are needed to realise a renewable energy project in Ireland requires the involvement of the agencies I have outlined.

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