Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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164. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government whether a strategic environmental assessment, SEA, has been, or is being, undertaken by his Department in respect of the National Territory Mapping for Renewable Electricity, being prepared under Article 15b of the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2023/2413, RED III; if not, the reason his Department considers this mapping process to comply with the requirements of the SEA Directive 2001/42/EC and the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 435 of 2004), given that the mapping exercise constitutes a national plan setting the framework for future renewable energy development consents; if his Department intends to carry out a full SEA, incorporating consultation with prescribed authorities including the Irish Aviation Authority, AirNav Ireland, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, before finalising or submitting the national map to the European Commission, as required under Article 15b(5) of RED III, which obliges Member States to ensure compliance with European Union environmental law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57860/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2023/2413 (RED III) requires EU Member States to carry-out national territory mapping (under Article 15b) to identify the domestic potential and the available areas that are necessary for the installation of renewable energy plants and their related infrastructure as required to meet Ireland’s national contributions towards the overall EU renewable energy target of 42.5% by 2030.

Noting that Article 15b states that 'Member States may use or build upon their existing spatial planning documents or plans' and noting that several local Planning Authorities have already identified lands suitable for renewable energy development, the coordinated mapping of the national territory has been undertaken based on the lands already identified for same, in City or County Development Plans.

On this basis, all 31 local Planning Authorities were consulted, to obtain and collate the mapping and information that already identifies the potential opportunities for grid scale onshore renewables, in particular grid scale onshore wind and solar PV. This is included in several existing Development Plans and Wind Energy Strategies/Renewable Energy Strategies. These plans in themselves have been subject to environmental assessments and statutory public consultation (in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000) and are adopted by the Elected Members of each local Planning Authority.

Using the mapping received from local Planning Authorities, collated maps for onshore wind and solar PV have been created showing all current local Planning Authority lands identified in a single map that amalgamates and harmonises the local authority lands identified into uniform national classifications. It does not alter or amend any existing plans, nor does it affect their status under any enactment. Any planning applications for development within any lands already identified as suitable for renewable energy developments will be subject to detailed assessment by the relevant Planning Authority and is subject to all relevant planning and environmental legislation and regulations.

In further consideration of Article 15b requirements, mapping of the maritime area has been undertaken to identity a number of sites currently available for the development of offshore wind energy. Four of these sites are included in the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan, as adopted by Government in October 2024, and were subject to a process of SEA and AA under the requisite regulations and directives. The other sites included in the offshore maritime area mapping for the purposes of Article 15b consist of sites already being considered in the planning system, in accordance with the policies and objectives of the National Marine Planning Framework. Any planning applications for development within any maritime areas for offshore renewable energy already designated will be subject to detailed assessment by the relevant Planning Authority and is subject to all relevant planning and environmental legislation and regulations.

Article 15c obliges EU Member States to ensure that competent authorities “adopt one or more plans designating [...] renewables acceleration areas for one or more types of renewable energy sources”. RAAs are to be a “sub-set” of areas identified under Article 15b. The Draft RAA Plan (including rules on effective mitigation measures) will be subject to SEA and statutory public consultation (in accordance with Article 15d).