Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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160. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the public consultation document on the design of ORESS auctions in phase two will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34995/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Ireland’s first offshore wind auction (ORESS 1) procured more than 3,000 MW of secure, affordable and renewable electricity capacity, enough to provide over a quarter of our projected 2030 electricity demand, while shielding Irish consumers from energy price spikes for up to 20 years. The successful auction marks a breakthrough moment not just for offshore wind, but for Ireland as a whole.

Phase Two will build on this success. The Phase Two Policy Statement, published in March, established the Government policy for accelerating offshore wind deployment via a plan-led system. Consistent with the Policy Statement, ORESS 2 auctions will exclusively procure offshore wind capacity from development areas within Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPs), which are provided for in the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 (the MAP Act).

To inform the design of ORESS 2 auctions, my department will later today publish a consultation document seeking stakeholder views on the terms and conditions to apply for ORESS 2 auctions. The consultation document and further details of the consultation process will be available on Gov.ie later today.