Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he expects any of the 5GW offshore wind targeted for delivery by 2030 will be energised by 2030, as opposed to being under construction; to provide a detailed timeline of when he anticipates each project will be energised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64273/25]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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89. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the proportion of the 5GW of offshore wind targeted for 2030 that will be energised by 2030; the proportion that will be under construction by 2030; the proportion, if any, that will have yet to begin construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64274/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 89 together.

Government remains committed to the development of 5,000 megawatts of offshore wind capacity with projects in construction by 2030 and energised as soon as feasible thereafter.

The Maritime Area Planning Act which established a new framework for the planning and regulation of development and activities within Ireland's maritime area was enacted in 2021. Subsequently, the Maritime Area Consents (MACs) for six offshore wind projects were issued in 2022. Ireland's first offshore wind auction, ORESS 1, was held in May 2023. Over 3,000 megawatts of offshore wind capacity was awarded to 4 offshore wind projects. In addition, the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) was established in July 2023.

5 offshore wind projects are currently in development off our east coast. The 5 projects submitted their applications for planning consent to An Bord Pleanála between mid-2024 and early-2025. These applications are with An Comisiúin Pleanála and I understand a number of requests for further information have been issued to the applicants. Subject to planning consent, I would anticipate that projects will be in construction by 2030 and operational by the early 2030s.

Separately, the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) was approved by the Oireachtas in October 2024. This is Ireland's first spatial plan for offshore renewable energy, designating 4 sites off the south coast for future development. Currently, an offshore wind auction process for one site within the South Coast DMAP is under way. The auction for the 900 megawatt Tonn Nua site off our south coast opened on 22 September and I expect to announce the auction winner on 27 November.

As offshore wind farms are developed by private developers, the detailed timeline of each project being energised is set out by individual developers and will vary depending on the project. The delivery timelines will be subject to, amongst other factors, a positive planning consent decision and engagement from the supply chain, in the case of a positive planning decision.

I am also making arrangements to bring the remaining 3 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.