Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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169. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps that he has taken to satisfy himself that relevant entities with key roles to play in facilitating the development of Ireland’s offshore and onshore renewable energy targets are adequately resourced to meet their statutory remit given the planned increase from 4GW to 15GW of renewable energy in the next seven and a half years; the extent of the additional human resources required by each of EirGrid, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities and An Bord Pleanála to deliver on the requirements of each within their relevant remit regarding the development and commissioning of offshore and onshore renewable energy in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22565/22]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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170. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has requests for sanction for approval for additional resources including recruitment concerning EirGrid and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities; if so, the date such requests were received by his Department; when decisions will be made in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22566/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 170 together.

A cross-Departmental Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce has been established to drive delivery and capture wider and longer term economic and business opportunities associated with the development of offshore renewables in Ireland. This will include the identification of supporting infrastructure development and supply chain opportunities as Ireland’s offshore wind industry is developed. 

Officials from my Department have been engaging with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with respect to the level of staffing required by An Bord Pleanala to process applications for renewable energy, both onshore and offshore, with a view to ensuring that there is sufficient and appropriate expertise in place to meet the State’s ambitions in respect of the roll-out of renewable energy projects. These discussions are ongoing and will continue over the course of the current quarter. Approval has been given, in full, for the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities three year workforce plan, representing 73 new whole time equivalent positions.

EirGrid has been appointed the operator and asset owner of Ireland’s onshore and offshore electricity transmission system, with ownership resting with EirGrid at all stages of the phased transition, regardless of whether the grid has been developed by individual renewable energy projects or EirGrid. As a commercial state company, the resourcing required to deliver on EirGrid’s mandate is a matter for the board and management of the company.