David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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197. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if provision has been made or will be made for credible floating offshore wind projects to be expedited on a par with traditional fixed bottom technology in phase 2 projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62320/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The 2020 Programme for Government committed to a target of 5GW of installed offshore wind capacity in Ireland’s maritime area by 2030. This target was affirmed in the 2021 Climate Action Plan and is required to meet the target which will be contained in the updated 2023 Plan, that up to 80% of Ireland’s electricity will be sourced from renewables by 2030.In addition, earlier this year, the Government agreed to target the delivery of an additional 2GW of offshore wind for the production of green hydrogen in order to create the necessary environment to develop a hydrogen industry.  

The offshore renewable energy goals will be achieved over two phases and these phases will also establish the building blocks for a long-term sustainable offshore renewable energy industry in Ireland. During the second phase of this work programme, we will see the continued development of fixed wind turbine wind farms, but as the technology becomes more commercially viable, we expect floating wind to be developed in our deeper, rougher seas. Supports for floating wind will be put in place and we expect to see the first floating projects taking shape as part of Phase 2. A policy statement will be published shortly to guide developers and decision-makers, however it will be a matter for the new maritime regulator, MARA, and An Bord Pleanala to consider the credibility of applications for offshore development, regardless of the technology utilised.