2026-06-11

13. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update offshore wind projects; the amount of offshore wind that is expected to be connected by 2030, 2032 and 2035, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43821/26]

Five phase 1 offshore projects are currently in planning, as the Deputy will be aware, off our east coast, with planned capacity of 3.8 GW. All five have submitted planning applications and first determinations from An Coimisiún Pleanála are anticipated on at least two of these by the end of this year, with the others to follow in 2027. The reason for that is they received detailed requests for further information, particularly around bird surveys. Subject to planning approval, I anticipate that some of these projects will be in construction by 2030. I do not see any of them being electrified, although there is the possibility of one, with a fair wind, if the Deputy will excuse the pun. I have said that publicly. Our focus is in getting them into construction and operational by the early 2030s. We also have the 900 MW Tonn Nua project off the coast of Waterford. It was the only successful auction in the EU. If Britain is included as part of the European Continent, it was one of only two, along with allocation round 7, AR7. I expect that to be energised in 2033. Tonn Nua was the first of four sites to be brought to auction from the south coast designated maritime area plan, DMAP. We are making preparations to bring the remaining three south coast DMAP sites to auction over the coming period. Separately, we are in the middle of the national DMAP process, that is, mapping our full maritime area to build that pipeline of sites into the future to be able to continue with regular auctions. That is to facilitate a further 20 GW. I am not being evasive but I cannot say this we will have in 2030, 2032 or beyond. Suffice it to say, it is getting these ones out of planning and getting the phase 1 ones into construction. Tonn Nua is now done. I want to move on Lí Ban, for an auction there, and then conclude the national DMAP work by 2027, which is what we said we would do.

The Minister pointed on some of the issues that I want to raise. The first is what has been identified as a substantial delay in the planning system. This was reported on and accounted in the Oireachtas committee at the back end of last year. There were examples there, which he touched on, in terms of entering into the planning system in 2024, an expectation that people would have a decision in 2025 and instead they get a massive request for further information. I would make two related points on that. The first is that it felt like a planning system getting used to new types of applications. Is that something that we can expect in the future will be resolved? The second is the capacity in the planning system and the staffing of it. It does not fall directly under the Minister's remit, but where is that?

To be fair, on the Deputy's first point, that is acknowledge by what was then An Bord Pleanála and is now An Coimisiún Pleanála. Certainly, those were the first type of projects that they ever had to deal with. I agree there are learnings and they have learnt from them. Second, the planning environment is different now. New applications will come under the Planning and Development Act 2024, which sets strict timelines on planning decisions and sets timelines around requests for further information and how often further information can be requested. In short, that will improve the situation. In relation to resources, I can tell the Deputy, given my previous portfolio, that we have increased resources in An Coimisiún Pleanála by over 50% and we have restructured an coimisiún. An coimisiún is meeting approximately 90% of its targets. I commend the officials on the work they are doing. The decisions are coming out quicker and more efficiently. The Deputy made a very fair point. Tthese were large projects that had not been seen in the planning system previously. The learnings from them have been acknowledged. With the new planning Act, I expect that planning for new offshore wind projects will go through much quicker and much more efficiently.

That is something that we need to keep a continued emphasis on to ensure that these applications are processed in a timely manner and that all of the necessary scrutiny is conducted from all aspects. One of the key enabling infrastructures around offshore wind is our ports infrastructure. In terms of the development of our ports infrastructure, will we be ready to take advantage of the opportunity that presents itself in terms of offshore wind, whether in terms of ports for the maintenance of these facilities or for their construction?

Ports will be critical. In the coming couple of weeks, certainly before the recess, we will be bringing the new national ports policy to Cabinet. A lot of work has gone into it, and fed in by stakeholders as well. The east coast will be very important on that. That will come to Cabinet and then we will publish it. That will go out for consultation and every party and all stakeholders will get to see it. Right now, Belfast is the only port that one could say will be able to carry out both. Belfast will be important to the island of Ireland and I see it being utilised. Cork is well advanced as well. I have visited the Port of Cork on a number of occasions. There has been really good work on the extension of piers, and good assistance from the European Union in that regard. I agree we need to increase port capacity for construction but also, really importantly, as the Deputy mentioned, for the maintenance that will be required. I see we will be ready. The Port of Cork has moved forward. I see Belfast as part of our offering as well and part of that solution, and, indeed, other ports that may come forward as well.

The next available question is Question No. 18 in the name of Deputy Michael Murphy.