Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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156. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 557 of 2 February 2025, to provide an update on the scoping process to identify the component factors relevant to the preparation of planning guidelines for solar energy developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17946/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department notes the commitment in the Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future to introduce planning guidelines for solar energy developments.

In light of this commitment, my Department has begun an initial scoping process to identify the component factors relevant to the preparation of planning guidelines for solar energy development, including any appropriate environmental reporting and public consultation requirements, and the possible timeframe for publication of said guidelines. While work is ongoing in this regard, this process remains at an early stage and factors for consideration as part of the review have not yet been decided by my Department.

Given this scoping process remains at an early stage, such guidelines, once completed, will likely issue as a National Planning Statement, subject to commencement of the relevant provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2024.

In the interim, there are currently no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar energy developments. Proposals for individual solar energy developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments, with planning applications made to the relevant local planning authority, or An Bord Pleanála on appeal.