Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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121. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to outline the Government's plans for sustainable energy infrastructure in County Kildare, including support for solar energy initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42548/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government is committed to supporting the development of sustainable energy infrastructure. Under Climate Action Plan Update 2024, Ireland has set a target of 80% of electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030, including 8 GW of solar and 9 GW of onshore wind.

Ireland now has over 1 GW of solar and over 5 GW of onshore wind energy generation, with significant further development needed to support Ireland’s economic growth through the deployment of renewable energy infrastructure.

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 and provide a supporting policy framework for Ireland’s electricity supply to protect Irish homes and businesses from volatile fossil fuel prices.

Following the finalisation of the revised National Planning Framework, the three Regional Assemblies will integrate these targets into their Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies and associated Regional Renewable Energy Strategies. These allocations will then be translated into local authority-level targets that shall be planned for through their city and county development plans. Counties in the East and Midland region will play a leading role in benefiting from Ireland's renewable energy transformation, with 25% of onshore wind and 45% of solar capacity due to be provided across the region by 2030.

My Department has developed a number of support schemes, such as Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) and Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) to incentivise the development of renewable energy infrastructure, encourage community participation, and achieve our 2030 targets.