Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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104. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide detail on how the NISA wind turbine project will be affected by the newly established SPA for birds in the area; to detail any assurances which have been given to the NISA wind turbine project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37959/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The North Irish Sea Array (NISA) was awarded a Maritime Area Consent (MAC) by my Department with a commencement date of 23 December 2023. This allowed NISA, along with the 5 other MAC-holding projects, to (a) participate in Ireland's first offshore wind auction, the Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS 1), and (b) to apply for development permission (planning permission) from An Bord Pleanála. NISA is one the four projects successful in ORESS 1, and is therefore one of the most advanced offshore wind projects in Ireland. All individual offshore renewable projects are required to comply with all relevant applicable provisions of European and national environmental law, including for environmental assessment. The Maritime Area Planning Act 2021, provides for project level environmental assessments of specific proposals, including offshore renewable energy projects. At this project level, offshore renewable projects will be subject to full environmental assessment by An Bord Pleanála during the maritime planning permission application where the specifics of the development and area in question will be considered. This includes applicable requirements relating to AAs and EIAs and to marine areas designated as Special Protection Areas under EU Birds Directive.