Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State. I am raising a matter of utmost urgency and national importance, namely, the development of our clean energy infrastructure. As the Minister of State knows, our climate action plan commits us to deep cuts in carbon emissions and a rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewables. On wind energy, the wind energy development guidelines first issued in 2006 and most recently reviewed in draft form in 2019 provide a clear framework for evaluating wind farm applications. They set out criteria on noise, visual impact, shadow flicker, grid connections and community consultation obligations. Those guidelines sit within the broader national planning framework, which envisages wind energy as central to our energy mix to 2040 and beyond. I welcome those developments and have constantly said wind energy must be deployed responsibility, with full protection of residential amenities and rural communities. The guidelines ensure the proper setbacks, environmental impact assessments and community dividends are secured before the turbines go up.

Wind alone will not suffice. Solar energy has an equally important role to play in our transition and the programme for Government explicitly commits to introducing national planning guidelines for solar farms and to providing certainty for farmers, developers and local authorities alike. Last November, Solar Ireland published best practice guidance covering community engagement, archaeological assessments and glint and glare mitigation. These voluntary standards are a welcome step but they could be strengthened by a unified statutory policy. Without a clear binding framework we risk creating uncertainty that may slow momentum. Investors may hesitate to commit until they see consistent permitting criteria and farmers could pause land agreements as they await clarity. Local authorities working without a common reference point might face longer processing times through the planning system or varying local approaches which in turn can delay projects. Over time these factors can make it harder to scale up solar capacity promptly and smoothly. A national guideline would help align expectations, streamline decision-making and maintain community confidence. It would ensure projects are distributed in a balanced way, support grid connection planning and give all stakeholders, including farmers, developers, councils and neighbours, a shared roadmap for successful, responsible deployment. I therefore ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when we can expect to see these national planning guidelines for solar farms published and implemented.

Farmers are keen to diversify their incomes. Communities stand ready to support clean energy and investors need certainty before moving forward. A clear timeline would give local authorities the confidence to process applications efficiently and demonstrate our collective commitment to climate goals and rural development. I and the people I represent totally support every form of clean energy, from wind farms to solar to anaerobic digestion and any emerging technologies. Ireland must embrace all available alternatives to coal and oil. Ensuring we have a robust, transparent and timely planning process for each technology is not optional - it is our responsibility. I am asking the Minister of State to outline a timetable for the publication of solar planning guidelines. Let us give certainty to the local authorities, clarity to our communities and confidence to the investor. In doing so we will honour our climate responsibilities, strengthen rural economies and secure a cleaner, more resilient energy future for Ireland.