Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

289. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government for an update on plans to deliver onshore and offshore wind power and solar in a sustainable way and engage with the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43532/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Programme for Government 2025 has reaffirmed Ireland’s targets of 80% of electricity demand to be met by renewable energy sources. It should be noted that renewables provided circa 40% of our electricity demand in 2024.

The continued development of renewable energy projects will stimulate local economies and attract investment. Renewable energy is already making a significant contribution to communities across Ireland through job creation, community benefit funds, and revenue to local authorities, that can be reinvested in local communities and services. Strong and early community engagement, as well as the provision of benefit funds by developers, is essential for the sustainable development of renewable energy projects.

The cross-Government onshore Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce (ARET) and Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce (OWDT) are bringing together a range of key stakeholders including Government Departments, State Bodies and industry to identify and prioritise the required policies needed to achieve our renewable electricity targets and ensure that barriers to the implementation of these policies are removed or minimised to the greatest extent possible. My Department recently published annual reports produced by both taskforces outlining major progress made in 2024 to deliver Ireland’s clean energy transition and presents key actions for 2025/2026.

Ireland has a number of support schemes in place to increase the development of renewable electricity. The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is pivotal to the achievement of Ireland’s 2030 target. RESS consists of a series of competitive auctions, four onshore and one offshore to date, in which successful applicants are offered a two-way support arrangement for a period of approximately 15 years.

The four onshore RESS auctions held since September 2020 have been fundamental in boosting Ireland’s energy independence, with a fifth onshore auction due to take place in early September. The Small-scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) was also developed to offer a simpler route to market for small-scale and community projects.

The revised National Planning Framework includes regional renewable electricity capacity allocations. The inclusion of the allocations will facilitate the accelerated roll-out and delivery of onshore wind and solar development. These allocations will be integrated into Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies which will, in turn, inform city and county development plans.

Government remains committed to the development of 5GW of offshore wind capacity with projects in construction by 2030 and energised as soon as feasible thereafter. Ireland’s 5GW target will be met through a combination of projects from Phase One and from within the South Coast DMAP. Five Phase 1 projects accounting for 3.8 GW are progressing through the planning process with an Coimisiún Pleanála.

Separately, the 900MW Tonn Nua site within the South Coast DMAP will be auctioned this Autumn. I intend to bring the remaining three offshore wind DMAP sites to market, and plan to hold another auction in 2026, ensuring a consistent pipeline of offshore developments will take place over the coming years. A further pipeline of development sites within the National DMAP will follow from 2028 onwards.