Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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176. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to increase the production of offshore wind energy; if climate change and the war in Ukraine have given an added impetus to these plans; the level of Government investment in offshore wind energy production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17946/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 (MAP Act) and the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) (Ireland's first marine spatial plan) provide for long-term forward planning for Ireland's maritime area and will enhance the effective management of marine activities and more sustainable use of our marine resources. The MAP Act 2021 also provides for the establishment of a new agency to regulate development in the Maritime Area, the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA). While MARA will take time to establish and become operational my Department have been developing the Maritime Area Consent (MAC) consenting regime and guidance to process the relevant Phase 1 projects for the first offshore wind auction. A consultation on the MAC assessment regime for Relevant Projects concluded in February. Alongside this, my Department have been drafting the terms and conditions for offshore wind-specific auctions under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). Owing to the specific scale and nature of typical offshore wind farms, dedicated auctions are initially required to support the longer-term potential of this technology in Ireland. At least three offshore RESS auctions are currently planned for this decade.

Additionally, the new framework for Ireland’s future offshore electricity transmission system, approved last year, provides for offshore grid development, operation and ownership. Progress in this area includes the publication of CRU’s decision in February on the Phase 1 Grid Connection Assessment. Following engagement with industry, EirGrid will also shortly publish requirements for participants in the first offshore auction regarding offshore transmission system functional specifications, ownership boundaries, and timing of asset transfer from developers to EirGrid.

Our investment in offshore wind energy production includes a suite of actions in our Climate Action Plan to realise the potential of Ireland’s offshore renewable energy (ORE), while the Programme for Government commits to the achievement of 5GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030 and a long-term plan to take advantage of a potential of at least 30GW of floating wind thereafter.

The current crisis in Ukraine has dramatically concentrated EU efforts to address European dependence on Russian oil and gas through proposed new measures to diversify fossil fuel imports, enhance security of supply, and accelerate energy system decarbonisation to remove regional reliance on fossil fuels. In this regard, the European Commission is working closely with Member States to protect the resilience of Europe’s gas security of supply through solidarity measures.

Both the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the EU have stressed that the current situation further strengthens collective resolve to accelerate the clean energy transition, in line with the European Green Deal.