Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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809. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the appropriate action will be taken to ensure that future policies setting out the limitations of so-called renewable energies will take research into consideration in view of recent reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8597/20]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Climate Action Plan sets out how Ireland will achieve its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets as well as putting Ireland on a trajectory consistent with net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Achieving 70% renewable electricity by 2030 will require significant build out in infrastructure and deployment of new technologies. It will involve phasing out coal-fired and peat-fired electricity generation plants, increasing our renewable electricity, reinforcing our grid (including greater interconnection to allow electricity to flow between Ireland and other countries), and putting systems in place to manage intermittent sources of power, especially from wind.

The Plan includes a number of actions to deliver this target, including regulatory streamlining of renewables and grid development; development of the offshore renewables sector, implementation of the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS); and development of an enabling framework for micro-generation. 

Deployment of renewable energy in Ireland will continue to be based on sound scientific and economic evidence in order to deliver a sustainable and low carbon energy future.