Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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13. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the proposed Memorandum of Understanding between a company (details supplied) and relevant enterprise agencies as contained within ‘Powering Prosperity: Ireland’s Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy”; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30284/24]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Establishing this Memorandum of Understanding is an action in Powering Prosperity – Ireland’s Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy, which was published by my Department in March. It is part of a suite of actions contained in the Strategy designed to increase the capacity and capability of companies in Ireland in the offshore wind supply chain. Consultations carried out as part of the development of Powering Prosperity identified the need for measures that will enable SMEs to have the opportunity to bid on a competitive basis in public procurement tenders.

Work is ongoing to establish a Memorandum of Understanding between EirGrid, Enterprise Ireland, and IDA Ireland to provide a framework for strategic cooperation between the parties on offshore wind development. A core objective of this Memorandum of Understanding will be to maximise the opportunities for companies in Ireland to work on the grid infrastructure projects planned by EirGrid to support the deployment of offshore wind.

My Department is facilitating the preparation of this Memorandum of Understanding and good progress has been made in developing a scope for this agreement. It is expected that the Memorandum of Understanding will be finalised over the coming weeks.

This Memorandum of Understanding will build on the existing collaboration relating to offshore wind development between EirGrid, Enterprise Ireland, and IDA Ireland in the context of the cross Government Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce, and my Department’s Offshore Wind Industry Forum, of which the three Agencies are members.