David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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71. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans for the expansion of the production of renewable energy in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41433/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Under Climate Action Plan Update 24, Ireland has set a target of 80% of electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030 made up of 9 GW of onshore wind, 8 GW of solar and at least 5 GW of offshore wind. This will require unprecedented levels of investment in renewable electricity generation development and in the infrastructure required to expand and strengthen our electricity grid.

The Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce (ARET) has been established to identify and prioritise the required policies to achieve our onshore renewable electricity targets. The ARET published its Implementation Plan in June, which sets out the roadmap for the actions to be taken in the near-term to help meet our 2030 targets.

The Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce (OWDT) continues to oversee actions required to develop offshore wind generation in Ireland. The OWDT published its Annual Review 2023 and Key Actions for 2024 report in April, which sets out the key measures to be undertaken in the offshore wind sector. While the Future Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy sets out the key actions to develop Ireland’s long-term, plan-led approach to offshore wind.

The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is one of the main Government policies to deliver this renewable generation capacity. Five auctions, both onshore and offshore, have been undertaken to date.

Regional renewable electricity targets have been included in the draft First Revision of the National Planning Framework. This is a critical step towards achieving Ireland’s national renewable electricity targets.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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72. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment for an update on the Regional Renewable Energy Strategies; whether his Department is considering moving to a plan-led approach for the large-scale development of solar in advance of the adoption of these strategies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41376/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Climate Action Plan 2024 reaffirms Ireland’s national targets of 9 GW of onshore wind, 8 GW of solar and at least 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030.

The Planning and Development Bill 2023 concluded in the Houses of the Oireachtas on Wednesday 9th October 2024. One of the key reforms in the approved Bill, includes greater mandatory alignment of all tiers of planning, improving consistency, from national, regional to local level. Section 29 of the Bill relates to the content of a Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES).

Regional renewable electricity targets for solar and onshore wind are included in the draft First Revision of the National Planning Framework (NPF). These 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, protecting Irish homes and businesses from volatile fossil fuel prices through the deployment of indigenous wind and solar energy across our regions.

Following approval of the First Revision of the NPF and associated review of the three Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies, the regional targets are to be integrated into each RSES and the associated Regional Renewable Energy Strategies and translated to county-level targets that will inform City and County Development Plans.

Under the aegis of the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce (ARE Taskforce), officials from my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are working with the three Regional Assemblies and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on developing a regional methodology for meeting national onshore renewable electricity targets.

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