Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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246. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of a planning application (details supplied); when the planning application will be formally withdrawn following confirmation that the developers will no longer proceed with the project; the status of the marine area consent granted to the company in December 2022; details of the 'performance security' agreement between his Department and the company required by the offshore renewable electricity support scheme 1 contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25715/25]

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 successful bidders in my Department's first offshore wind auction in 2023. The project was awarded a Maritime Area Consent in 2022 and I understand that the project submitted a planning application to An Bord Pleanala in January 2025.

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 ORESS contract, including in relation to the performance security. It would be premature for me to comment further on these matters in advance of receiving that legal advice.

My Department has no role in relation to the planning application or in relation to the Maritime Area Consent. These are matters for Corio Generation and the relevant consenting bodies.