Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I do not disagree with much of what he has said. The Climate Action Plan 2024 has set a revised timeline of quarter 4 of this year for the publication of the final wind guidelines and the Department is working towards meeting this commitment. It has to align with the new Planning and Development Bill 2023, which is currently undergoing the Oireachtas legislative process, and the ongoing review of the national planning framework. There will be a draft report, submissions will be sought from the public and so on.

In the first six months of 2023, emissions from electricity fell by 17% because of our renewables. In recent days, two thirds of our electricity was provided by renewable sources. It has been a success and very effective in transforming the situation. The Deputy is correct about the emphasis in the future being on offshore and solar energy. There will be some onshore. Some projects have been with An Bord Pleanála for the past two years and are awaiting decisions. I accept that the scale of the technology has escalated exponentially which has impacts and will limit onshore development.

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