Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The critical thing in the lifetime of this Government is getting those phase 1 projects, of which there are six on the east coast and one on the west coast, through the auction process and subject to their qualifying on that, into the planning system this year. The timelines depend on An Bord Pleanála, but we are conscious we are in a race with other European countries, or with the US and others, who are looking for the same supply chain, ships, cables and other infrastructure. We are looking to try to make sure, with the greatest certainty, that the timetable is minimised and we start to see installations happening in the likes of 2026 and 2027. It is in the period 2028-29 that we expect the phase 1 projects to be delivered.

While that is happening, we switch to phase 2, which is further projects to make sure we meet that 5 GW target, where we have designated zones. Those are the appropriate place for wind energy to be developed, because we have learned a planned-led approach is the right way. Included in that is the use of Irish ports, that is, Belfast and ports in the South which need to be up and running in time for that sort of delivery schedule.

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