Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí. We have made recent changes to planning legislation to facilitate solar energy development. The Deputies might remember in October 2022 there was a significant enhancement of the existing provisions regarding planning exemptions for rooftop solar installations. That allowed the erection of solar panels on apartments and certain other buildings, including hospitals, libraries and workplaces, with certain conditions and limitations.

I will take the Deputies' points on board regarding individual solar energy developments. They are subject to statutory requirements within subsequent planning applications, determined at local level and subject to public participation. It is free and open to any consultees to make observations in regard to these developments. It is a reserved function for councillors to determine what suitability of a planning application should be assigned within the county development plan. We will look at this in the context of what is happening in Cork and I will talk to my officials in that regard.

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