Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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205. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of wind turbines per county in tabular form. [38914/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Department does not hold information on the number wind turbines per county. Such information would be contained in the planning applications and approvals granted by each planning authority with respect to individual windfarm projects.

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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206. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to encourage offshore wind farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38915/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Climate Action Plan 2021 commits to achieving at least 5GW of offshore wind by 2030 and includes a suite of actions to realise the potential of Ireland’s offshore renewable energy resources. The Programme for Government commits to developing a longer-term plan to harness the estimated potential of at least 30GW of offshore floating wind power in our Atlantic waters. The Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 provides legislation for an entirely new marine planning system, to balance harnessing our offshore wind potential while protecting our rich and unique marine environment. Applications from Relevant Projects for Maritime Area Consents under the new marine planning regime are now being assessed with the first Maritime Area Consents expected to be issued later this year. This marks an important step towards our 2030 targets.

Concurrently, my Department is designing a pathway, based on consultation feedback, for a second batch of projects to progress through the new consenting system when the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority is established in early 2023.

Work on a revised Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan is underway. This plan will provide an evidence base for the identification of the most suitable areas for sustainable offshore renewable energy development and set a pathway for the development of offshore renewables beyond 2030.

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

Offshore renewable energy is vital to Ireland’s green energy transition, reducing our dependency on imported fossil fuels, lowering our greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthening our security of supply.