Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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182. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on a plan-led approach in offshore wind farming. [15084/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Policy Statement on the Framework for Phase Two Offshore Wind approved by Government aims to accelerate the delivery of 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030, as well as the wider Climate Action Plan objective of achieving 80% renewable electricity by that date.

Under Phase Two, offshore renewables capacity will continue to be procured through the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), with the size and regularity of auctions required to meet the 5 GW target to be determined by onshore grid and marine spatial constraints, and the outcome of Phase One. Phase Two auction participants will compete for supports to develop offshore wind capacity within Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Designated Areas, which will be designated according to legislative provisions for Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPs) in the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021.

The location of Phase Two ORE Designated Areas will be geographically aligned with available onshore grid capacity, in addition to being informed by environmental considerations. By aligning with and maximising scarce available onshore grid capacity, the designation of ORE Designated Areas will expedite future delivery of offshore wind, while ensuring that development is managed in a planned, strategic and sustainable way. This approach will provide additional certainty for investment in Ireland’s offshore renewables sector due to enhanced project delivery prospects.

The initial ORE Designated Areas will be geographically aligned with the identification by EirGrid of existing onshore grid capacity to connect up to 700 MW of offshore wind on the South coast. Contingent on environmental considerations and Oireachtas approval, the initial Phase Two ORE Designated Areas will be adopted by the end of 2023. This will facilitate the commencement of the first Phase Two auction process – ORESS 2 - by the end of this year.