James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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99. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the solar farm guidelines will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53896/25]

Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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126. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on the work of his Department to progress the Programme for Government commitment to introduce planning guidelines for solar energy developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53325/25]

John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 126 together.

My Department notes the commitment in the Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future to introduce planning guidelines for solar energy developments.

In light of this commitment, my Department has begun an initial scoping process to identify the component factors relevant to the preparation of planning guidelines for solar energy development, including any appropriate environmental reporting and public consultation requirements, and the possible timeframe for publication of said guidelines.

Given this scoping process remains at an early stage, such guidelines, once completed, will issue as a National Planning Statement, following the commencement of the relevant provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2024.

In the interim, there are currently no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar energy development. Proposals for individual solar energy developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments, with planning applications made to the relevant local planning authority, or An Coimisiún Pleanála on appeal.