Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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76. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the upcoming marine planning Bill will include agreed minimum distances for offshore wind turbines based on international and European best practice and informed by ecological and marine biology experts. [10553/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In order to achieve the Programme for Governments target to deliver 5 GW capacity in offshore wind by 2030 my Department is working closely with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the development of the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill.

The enactment of the Bill will provide a modern, up-to-date regulatory and marine planning framework for offshore renewable energy developments beyond the limits of the foreshore (12 nautical miles). This new regime will replace existing State and development consent regimes and streamline arrangements on the basis of a single consent principle. The General Scheme of the Bill was approved by Government on 17 December 2019.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has statutory responsibility for the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill and development of the associated Marine Planning Guidelines. These Guidelines will inform decisions made by planning authorities concerning developments in Ireland's maritime area, and will aim to support best practice throughout the planning process for offshore renewable energy developments.