Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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45. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the national policy and regulations on offshore energy creation and the need for it to be fast-tracked and clearly enunciated by Government and Government agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46735/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department is leading on significant legislative, regulatory and policy developments to meet Ireland’s legally binding climate objectives and accelerate the deployment of offshore renewable energy (ORE). This is vital to Ireland’s green energy transition, reducing our dependency on imported fossil fuels, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring security of supply and managing energy prices.

The Government has recently agreed to increase our 5GW ambition for offshore wind energy, with an additional 2GW dedicated to green hydrogen production. Furthermore, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to develop a longer-term plan to harness the estimated potential of at least 30GW of offshore floating wind power in our Atlantic waters. The North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) recently agreed a non-binding target of 260GW by 2050 for the North Seas, with non-binding targets of 15-20GW by 2040 and 37GW by 2050 for Ireland.

The Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Act 2021 provides the legal authority for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to assess Maritime Area Consent (MAC) applications from a set of pre-qualified offshore renewable energy projects. This work is in progress, with decisions on the first MACs to be made this year, allowing successful projects to apply for planning permission from An Bord Pleanála. All applications will involve a robust assessment of project specific details, include environmental assessment and full public consultation.

Consultation will shortly conclude on the criteria to select a second batch of ORE projects to enter the new maritime consenting system, enabling delivery on our 2030 targets.

An updated Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan will be published in early 2023. It will assess Ireland’s offshore energy resource potential and provide an evidence base to facilitate the identification of areas most suitable for the sustainable development of ORE, while also considering other maritime activities and marine biodiversity.suitable for the sustainable development of fixed and floating wind, wave, and tidal technologies in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone, while also considering other maritime activities and marine biodiversity. The OREDP II will support the intended development of offshore wind energy off the Atlantic coast accordingly.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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46. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the opportunity for Ireland to become an international leader on offshore energy creation providing a comprehensive and clear cut regime is quickly put in place (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46737/22]

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. The Government has recently agreed to increase our ambition in offshore wind energy with an additional 2GW earmarked for the supply of green hydrogen, a strategy for which is under development.

With Ireland’s maritime area seven times the size of its landmass and our location at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, the potential for offshore renewable energy (ORE) is enormous. My Department continues to work to realise this potential in line with our targets and identified actions. As part of this, I have established a cross-Departmental Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce in order to accelerate and drive delivery and capture the wider and longer term economic and business opportunities associated with the development of ORE in Ireland.

The Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) will be established in early 2023. In the interim, the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 provides the legal authority for the Minister of the Environment, Climate and Communications to assess Maritime Area Consent (MAC) applications from a set of pre-qualified offshore renewable energy projects. Decisions on the first MACs will be issued this year, allowing successful projects to apply for planning permission from An Bord Pleanála.

My Department has held a consultation on the criteria for the second batch of offshore projects required to meet our 2030 offshore energy targets, with a decision on these criteria to be taken later this year.

The Programme for Government commits to developing a longer-term plan to realise the potential of at least 30GW of offshore floating wind power in our Atlantic waters. Work is in progress on updating the first Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan. It will provide an evidence base for identifying the most suitable areas for the sustainable development of offshore renewable energy beyond 2030 and will be an important planning tool as Ireland transitions to an enduring plan-led regime for offshore renewable energy beyond 2030.

To facilitate this overarching ambition, my Department will continue to support development of regional offshore electricity grids and engagement with viable proposed new offshore infrastructure projects, including electricity interconnectors.