Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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315. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans in place for the implementation of the Shannon Foynes Task Force Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13643/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The independent Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce published its report in July 2023, recommending that my Department, who acted as Secretariat for the Taskforce during its operation, coordinate Government’s response to the report. The report contains 89 recommendations covering energy and associated industrial policy, in addition to a series of regionally targeted initiatives. My officials have liaised with action owners on a number of occasions since the publication of the report, with good progress being reported on the implementation of many of the Taskforce’s national policy recommendations, in particular.

Of the 89 recommended actions in the Taskforce’s report, 22 are completed, 39 are in progress, either as recommended by the Taskforce, or through alternative means which will achieve a similar outcome, 13 are under consideration, and 15 will not be progressed as recommended by the Taskforce.

Included in those completed recommendations is a suite of policies and other key developments relating to renewable energy which have been advanced by Government since the Taskforce published its report. These include the establishment of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA), the publication of the Future Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy, the National Hydrogen Strategy, and Powering Prosperity – Ireland’s Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy, published by my own Department, among others. Together, these policy developments will be key enablers for the offshore wind opportunity identified by the Taskforce for the Shannon Estuary region.

My Department continues to engage across Government on progressing those recommendations which have been accepted by Government but are yet to be delivered.