Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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114. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of offshore renewable facilities delivered to date in 2022. [62690/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Maritime Area Planning Act has introduced significant reform to enable the sustainable development of our significant offshore resource. It provides the legal authority for me as the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to assess Maritime Area Consent applications from a set of 8 pre-qualified offshore renewable energy projects, while the new agency, Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, is being established.

A significant milestone was reached this year, with the opening of this application window in April and receipt of applications from all eligible projects, the majority of which are on the east coast, with one on the west coast. I issued initial decisions according to the process set out in the legislation in Q3 2022, with legal documentation now being finalised.

Following the grant of Phase One Maritime Area Consents, information will be published on the department’s website as legally required. Phase One projects which obtain a Maritime Area Consent will be required to apply for all requisite consents, including planning permission. A joined-up approach to the delivery of our 2030 targets is being driven through the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce which I have established.

In parallel, the planning reforms which the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is introducing, will help ensure a timely and efficient progression of these projects through the planning system and ensure delivery on our offshore wind targets by 2030.

Further, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is supporting the development of Offshore Renewable Energy test facilities in Ireland to facilitate research and innovation activity for renewable technologies. This includes the Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site in Belmullet which is being developed to facilitate testing of full-scale offshore renewable technologies in an open ocean environment.