Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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59. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he will take to explore the potential for offshore wind farms in north County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44078/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government commits to producing a plan setting out a path to achieve 5GW of offshore wind by 2030 as well as a long term plan setting out how we will take advantage of the significant potential of offshore energy on the Atlantic Coast, in particular taking advantage of a potential of at least 30GW of offshore floating wind power in the Atlantic. This plan will focus on utilising our existing energy and maritime infrastructure and will seek to create the right investment environment and support ocean energy research where necessary in the areas of floating wind, tidal, and wave power.

The 2014 Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) sets out policy for the sustainable development of our abundant offshore renewable energy resources. The Strategic Environmental Assessment that underpinned the OREDP found that 4,500 MW of offshore wind and 1,500 MW of wave and tidal generation could be sustainably developed in Irish waters in the period to 2030.

As part of the full review of the OREDP a second Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP2) will be prepared and published by my Department, to fully update the policy in this area and take into account new information, environmental requirements and policy developments, including the Programme for Government.

As part of the development of the OREDP2, a number of environmental assessments will be carried out, including a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA). These assessments will facilitate evaluation of potential impacts and will inform the direction of the OREDP 2. The OREDP2 will provide an evidence base for the assessment of zones or areas suitable for deployment of wind, wave, and tidal technologies in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).  This will also be used to input into the National Marine Planning Framework.