Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Dolan for raising this issue. Obviously, the big challenge facing this country is energy sustainability and security into the future. That is a significant challenge. We are importing about 80% of our fossil fuels from the United Kingdom essentially through the gas interconnectors. We have developed a very strong onshore wind performance nationally, which is to our credit. It is at about 48%, but that has created challenges and the technology has advanced. The Deputy is correct that the turbines are much higher. There has been quite considerable pressure for the updated guidelines, which go back to 2006. The Minister will announce a national planning statement, which will take all of this on board, particularly in terms of wind energy guidelines. It will look at all those issues such as setback distance, noise, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections, because the grid connection is equally important, and a greater consistency of approach to planning for wind energy development and clarity to the industry and to local communities in particular. The technical context changes and technology has advanced hugely. The finalised national planning statement will be informed by the most up-to-date analysis and take account of international best practice. That will then have to go for strategic environmental assessment and public consultation where the public and all interested parties can make observations.

Solar is growing very fast but there was a very low level of coverage on solar around the country. There is an issue, and I have asked the Minister to bring in guidelines in respect of solar in rural Ireland, particularly in terms of a tiered approach where there is excellent agricultural land, and to weigh it up because for the future of the country, food security and food production are equally important. The farming community has different views on that, by the way. People want to retain their right to sell their land, so it is not simple. It is an issue that needs further development. Solar is a growing source. About 2.1 GW of solar power capacity is currently installed. We want more solar, but I take the Deputy's point that it has to be done on a planned basis. That is fair. In some areas where it is happening, people are beginning to very quickly see a transformative alteration in the landscape that they have been used to for 100-odd years, or for their entire lifetime. There is a land use review that has been under way for quite some time around the optimal land use options for the country more generally. That will look at key demands, both public and private, in terms of land also.

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