Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party)
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126. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason his Department departed from the Government's original implementation plan for the Accelerated Renewable Electricity Taskforce (ARET), and instead based the National Territory Renewable Energy Mapping policy on outdated County Development Plan wind energy maps; and the reasons for this change in approach. [60457/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Article 15b of the Renewable Energy Directive requires Ireland to carry-out national territory mapping to identify the domestic potential, and available areas necessary, for the installation of renewable energy generation and related infrastructure, as required to meet our national contribution towards the EU 2030 renewable energy target.

Existing City or County Development Plans and Wind Energy Strategies/Renewable Energy Strategies have been subject to environmental assessments and statutory public consultation (in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Planning and Development Act, 2000) and adopted by the elected members of the relevant Local Authority. All 31 Local Authorities were consulted to obtain relevant information and mapping which identifies the potential opportunities for grid-scale onshore renewable projects.

Based on the data received, collated maps, with uniform national classifications, for onshore wind and solar PV have been created. This does not alter or amend any existing plans nor does it affect their status under any enactment.

Mapping of the maritime area has been undertaken to identify sites 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 are 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 will be subject to detailed assessment by the relevant Planning Authority and subject to all relevant planning and environmental legislation and regulations.