Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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179. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has conducted analysis on the economic benefits of a transition to renewable sources of energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23496/26]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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At this time of global energy uncertainty, it is now more important than ever to continue to develop and accelerate the deployment of our indigenous renewable resources and associated grid infrastructure to provide long-term energy security and price stability for Irish households and businesses.

Renewables provide resilience and enhanced energy security through domestically produced electricity which reduces dependence on imported fuels, making Ireland less vulnerable to global energy price shocks. With renewables estimated to have met more of our electricity demand than gas in 2025 and a new record of 8 GW of renewable energy generation reached this month, Ireland is well placed to capitalise on the economic resilience provided by renewables and a flexible power system.

Wind, solar, hydro and other renewable energy sources will drive down and stabilise long-term wholesale electricity prices, enhancing our energy security and protecting homes and businesses from volatile fossil fuel markets.

Beyond the economic stabilisation that renewables provide, there are other direct and indirect economic benefits in the transition to renewables.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) estimated, in their Wind Energy Roadmap 2011-2050, that onshore and offshore wind could create 20,000 direct installation and operation/maintenance jobs by 2040 and that the wind industry would also have an annual investment potential of €6-12 billion by the same year. The report also found that the potential economic value of electricity generated by onshore wind could reach almost €15 billion by 2050.

The mandatory Community Benefit Funds from contracted projects under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme have estimated annual contributions of over €14 million annually and Government has committed to running further annual RESS auctions through the Programme for Government which will see this number grow.

Wind and solar farms also make important contributions to the Local Authority commercial rates in the county in which they are located. These commercial rates provide a stable revenue stream to fund public services, infrastructure, and local investment. Industry sources estimate that wind farms pay nearly €50 million each year to Local Authorities and that solar projects will contribute €28 million per year by 2030 in land leasing fees and €41.25 million per year by 2030 in commercial rates.

In March 2024, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) published Powering Prosperity – Ireland’s Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy aiming to ensure that Ireland captures the value of the supply chain to deliver an offshore renewable energy (ORE) sector of scale while maximising the economic impact of Ireland’s ambitious targets for ORE development.