Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On offshore wind, the Deputy will be aware that the Port of Waterford is proposing to develop offshore renewable energy operations on the downstream location at Belview Port in Kilkenny. That project is at preliminary design stage. The Rosslare Europort is progressing plans for offshore renewable energy, ORE, with a purpose-built quay and berth and up to 50 acres for an ORE quayside storage area for the purposes of marshalling and assembly. This will require dredging of the navigable channel to a depth of 9 m to 11 m. Rosslare Europort expects to lodge a planning application in the second quarter of 2024 with a view to beginning construction in the third quarter of 2025.

With regard to offshore renewable energy more generally, we published a policy statement on this in 2021 following a decision in September 2022. Significant work on planning and consent relating to offshore renewable energy are being prioritised across all Departments. Irish ports involved in advancing ORE infrastructure projects are at various stages of development. A number of ports are already working with financial advisers to progress the detailed business cases around the investment requirements and how best these requirements can be met.

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