Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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328. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the Government will seek to enforce performance security under the ORESS contract for the sceirde rocks project which now looks like it will not be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24192/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Sceirde Rocks project is a 450 MW offshore wind project that was one of four winners in my Department's first offshore wind auction in 2023. The project is owned by Corio Generation, who announced on 8 April 2025 a planned corporate restructuring that would see them focus on a smaller portfolio of projects worldwide. By letter of 25 April, Corio formally notified my Department that the Sceirde Rocks project would not proceed.

My Department is consulting with the Office of the Attorney General concerning the Corio notification and the consequential procedures to be followed under the contract. It would be premature for me to comment further in advance of receiving that legal advice.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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329. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeline for the delivery of the national DMAP; if his Department has been provided with additional staffing and additional funding to deliver this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24193/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPs) are a critical piece of the Government’s strategic, plan led approach for managing our maritime area to ensure that development takes place in a sustainable way.

In order to accelerate the process of site designation for offshore my Department is developing a single DMAP covering all of Ireland’s maritime area is the optimal choice for efficient delivery. This approach is aligned with the Programme for Government commitment and will provide greater certainty for all marine stakeholders, including our seafood sector and the offshore renewables industry.

The goal of the national ORE DMAP will be to designate sites around Ireland’s sea area capable of delivering at least 15GW of energy by 2040 which, along with the South Coast DMAP and the Phase One projects, will enable Ireland to meet its 20GW target.

The DMAP is being delivered by a dedicated Project Team from within my Department which is increasing its technical capacity through the recruitment of specialist planning and environmental expertise. The Project Team will be supplemented by expertise from relevant State agencies and will be further supported by a Steering Group comprised of sectoral experts from across Government Departments.

The timeline for delivery of the national ORE DMAP is the end of 2027.