Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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121. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment what engagement his Department is having with local fishermen around the coast about the construction of offshore wind infrastructure; if he agrees that the impact on traditional fishing grounds should be minimised; that adequate financial compensation is provided, and that agreements reached in advance of construction are adhered to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28746/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department is committed to engaging with the fishing sector as Ireland transitions to a more State-led, planned approach to offshore renewable energy development.

Government policy, as outlined in the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF), encourages the practice of co-existence between maritime industries. National policies relating to the fishing sector specifically are set out in the Fisheries chapter of the NMPF, which includes, for example, Fisheries Policy 1, which states that proposals that may adversely impact on existing fishing activities must demonstrate that they will, in order of preference, avoid, minimise or mitigate such impacts.

When finalised, the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan II (OREDP II) will provide a high-level spatial strategy to support and guide the long-term development of Ireland’s ORE resources. Representatives of the fishing sector provided input to the development of the OREDP II through the Advisory Group. An eight-week public consultation on the draft OREDP II concluded in April and it is now being updated and finalised following feedback received.

In-person consultation events included engagement with the fishing community at the Annual Skipper Expo, at in-person workshops and at local outreach events in coastal communities. A focused online consultation event for the fishing sector was also hosted. Following on from finalisation of the OREDP II, the fishing sector will also be engaged during the development of statutory Designated Maritime Area Plans for ORE.

Additionally, the Seafood / ORE Working Group provides a forum to facilitate constructive engagement on the interaction of the seafood and ORE industries. I understand that this group is considering adopting an updated work programme at present and that the issue of compensation for the fishing sector may feature as part of that updated work programme.

All generators developing projects under the new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme are required to make contributions to their respective project Community Benefit Fund. For offshore projects, this amounts to very substantial annual funds over its twenty-year life cycle. Such funding is anticipated to facilitate the local community in undertaking long term planned community support initiatives. The Community Benefit Fund will be professionally managed on behalf of the local community and the local community will have full responsibility for its funding decisions.