Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the progress made on the action plan for local authorities and on the planning process also. However, the major blockage seems to be the connection to the grid, particularly from a solar farm viewpoint. The planning process could have been completed. The owner of the solar farm, for example, could be waiting a number of years before he or she will see payback in that regard. That is a huge disincentive. We want to get more of those facilities available, which will have a huge part to play in take-up of the scheme. That has to be addressed.

The planning process around wind turbines needs to be addressed also. We have been waiting on the regulations around those for a number of years. Again, that is a drawback in that regard. The clock is ticking and we need to see progress sooner rather than later.

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