Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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13. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the Government's directive regarding the development of solar farms in Ireland, particularly in relation to obligations around community engagement and protections for farming quality agricultural land; the way concerns in relation to the intensification of solar farming in specific areas, such as County Meath will be addressed; and the safeguards that are in place to ensure that such developments do not negatively impact the long-term viability of agriculture in these regions. [40374/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Climate Action Plan 2024 reaffirms Ireland’s ambitious targets of 9 GW of onshore wind capacity, 8 GW of solar capacity and at least 5 GW of offshore wind capacity connected to the grid by 2030 in order to meet the requirement of 80% of electricity demand supplied by renewables.

Under the aegis of the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce (ARE Taskforce), officials from my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage have been developing a renewable electricity spatial policy approach that provides for the alignment between local plans and national policy.

Regional renewable electricity targets for solar and onshore wind have been included in the draft First Revision of the National Planning Framework. This will deliver a regional balance and distribution of renewable technologies, including solar, and provide a supporting policy framework for Ireland’s electricity supply to keep pace with economic growth, protect Irish homes and businesses from volatile fossil fuel prices through the deployment of indigenous wind and solar energy across our regions. Ireland now has over 1 GW of solar energy generation with significant further development needed to support Ireland’s economic growth through the deployment of 8 GW of solar connected to the grid by 2030.

While solar energy development guidelines are a future policy consideration under the ARE Taskforce Implementation Plan, it should be noted that planning matters fall within the remit of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Strong and early community engagement, as well as the provision of benefit funds, by developers is essential for the sustainable development of renewable energy projects. Late last year, industry published best practice guidance for the delivery of solar farms in Ireland. The guidelines encompass a range of areas such as community engagement, archaeological assessments and glint and glare.

Solar energy has a strong role to play in providing income diversification for farmers with opportunities for farmers to generate their own indigenous renewable energy from micro and small scale renewable projects as well as receive income from larger scale developments. Development of grid scale solar can include co-location of wind and solar generation with agricultural activities that result in a net reduction in carbon emissions and support land-use diversification options for farmers.

The Programme for Government committed to a Land Use Review to ensure that optimal land use options inform all relevant Government decisions. The second phase of the Land Use Review, which is currently underway, will seek to identify the key demands on land (both public and private) to inform policies for land use across key government objectives, improving socioeconomic, climate, biodiversity, water, and air quality outcomes.