Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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179. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he intends to develop planning guidelines for utility scale solar development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38298/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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It is the case that, as with the large majority of development types, there are currently no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar energy developments. Proposals for individual solar energy developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments, with planning applications made to the relevant local planning authority and with a right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála.

Within the wider national and local planning context, planning authorities must make their decisions based on the specific merits or otherwise of individual planning applications. In making decisions on a planning application, a planning authority, or the Board as appropriate, must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to the provisions of the development plan including any zoning objectives, any submissions or observations received from the public and the statutory consultees, and any relevant Ministerial or Government policies, including any guidelines issued by my Department.

While my Department is satisfied that the planning code is sufficiently robust to facilitate the assessment of individual planning applications for solar energy developments, including utility-scale solar energy developments, the matter is being kept under review. Where the need for specific planning guidelines for solar energy developments is identified, my Department will develop such guidance as appropriate.