Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister knows what he must and should do. The Government has very ambitious renewable energy plans for up to 2030, particularly for the east coast from Wexford to County Louth where it is planned to generate 3.5 GW of electricity. As of now, we have only 25 MW generated by a very small offshore farm on the Arklow Bank. The Marine Planning and Development Management Bill will come before the House shortly but there is a crossover concerning An Bord Pleanála. Has An Bord Pleanála the expertise and resources to deal with the ambitious plans the Government has for renewable energy, which is massive compared with what we have? I like to think that the resources available to An Bord Pleanála will be taken into consideration and that whatever it requires will be dealt with, maybe not in this Bill, but somewhere because there is a crossover with the other Bill that will come forward.

As a result of today's Bill there will be a change in work practices because as more people work from home, less office space is required but garden offices will be required. In the last year or two an office space, back garden shed or whatever in Dublin was refused planning permission. Throughout the country there will be a sea change in work practices with people working from home. Will the Minister offer advice to local authorities and their members on changed work practices when they compile development plans going forward? With that, I wish the Minister well with his Bill.