Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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21. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on floating offshore wind; if he plans to progress any pilot projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17710/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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In order to achieve our ambitious Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) goals, it is likely that a number of different technologies will need to play a role, including floating offshore wind.

Given the relatively short timeframe involved in achieving our 2030 target, the focus of ORESS auctions so far has been on fixed-bottom offshore wind, as this technology is much more commercially advanced and competitively priced than floating wind at the moment.

Floating wind is at a relatively early stage of commercial development, with a total installed capacity globally in 2024 of around 0.3 GW, compared to around 50 GW of fixed offshore wind. For this reason, the capital costs involved in installing floating wind turbines are much higher, although prices are expected to fall in the coming years.

Floating wind does have some advantages over fixed wind turbines, as they can be deployed in much deeper waters and access areas with higher wind resources. This could provide huge opportunities for Ireland, particularly off the West coast.

There are a number of challenges that will need to be overcome before floating wind can be deployed at scale, however, including ensuring that there are adequate port facilities and grid availability in locations where the technology will be deployed. Work is being carried out across Government to increase our capacity in these areas.

Despite these challenges, Government is committed to capitalising on our vast floating wind potential in the medium- to long-term. The Future Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy Policy Statement, published in May 2024, included an action to “Investigate the feasibility of a floating offshore wind demonstrator site including optimal capacity”, with work ongoing within the Department on exploring this.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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22. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures his Department is taking to ensure that there is sufficient land zoned for renewable energy to meet Ireland’s 2030 targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17711/25]