Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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161. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the steps being taken to drive the delivery of Ireland's offshore wind targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49289/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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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 offshore wind projects are presently in development off our East Coast. These projects account for approximately 3.8GW of generating capacity, more than 60% of our present peak electricity demand. Applications for planning consent for all five projects are with An Comisiúin Pleanála. Subject to planning consent, I would anticipate that projects will be in construction by 2030 and operational by the early 2030s.

Separately, an offshore wind auction process for the 900 megawatt Tonn Nua site off our South Coast is due to commence on 22 September and be awarded by 9 December. This site is within the South Coast DMAP. The Tonn Nua project is expected to be operational by 2034, subject to planning consent.

I am making arrangements to bring the remaining three offshore wind South Coast DMAP sites to market, 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.