Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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193. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he plans to move to a plan-led approach to solar development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10417/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government 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 Programme for Government also commits to utilising the new Planning Act to fast-track developments. The Planning and Development Act 2024 was signed into law on 17 October 2024. The Act will be commenced on a staged basis and an Implementation Plan is currently being prepared by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. A key reform in the Act is the improved consistency and alignment throughout all tiers of planning i.e. national, regional to local level. Section 29 of the Act relates to the content of a Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES).

Regional renewable electricity capacity allocations 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 (RSESs), 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 (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.