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reason I bring this up is because of the debate that has been going on here all day and all last week about wind energy. That is a debate in its own right. There is a spectrum of views on that issue in this House. The one thing … share those documents with the Minister, is that the Irish Aviation Authority has said that in general it has no problem with wind energy, but it has a major health and air safety concern when planning permission for wind turbines is applied for in close proximity to primary

about Rosslare-Europort. I see CIÉ will soon be seeking planning permission to expand the port and develop a landmark facility for offshore wind energy. This will be a huge investment in the south east. Again, this is really important. I believe too that offshore wind energy

Neighbours and families are falling out with one another over land and access. My fear is that this will end up like the wind energy guidelines saga whereby the Government put a commitment in place for guidelines but the matter drags on for years and the can keeps … road. Ultimately, communities are left facing these developments with no protections in place whatsoever. The Government's performance when it comes to the wind energy guidelines certainly does not inspire confidence in how it will deal with this issue. There is a similar issue around solar energy developments

constituency, we have a huge number of energy developments at various stages of planning and development, between wind energy, solar farms, gas plants, etc. These are causing a lot of concern. I have raised this previously. It is important for me to say at the outset that

watch, our national grid has been dangerously neglected. We have not invested adequately in the capacity to harness the increase in renewable energy. Wind turbines are going up at such a rate that the grid cannot cope. Why? It is because the sole focus seems … bill? It is the public. The cost is added euro by euro onto every household's energy bill. What we are seeing is that the roll-out of solar and wind farms has begun to move beyond the green strategy. It has been designed to ensure high profits

grid and store the energy so as to level out the efficiency when there is a lack of wind or sun. Gigawatts of wind energy could be added to this country but we do not the grid capacity right now. We have had the ESB and EirGrid

equal to the peak energy demand for the entire country. It is also more than the entire 5 GW target for offshore wind energy by 2030, which the Government is sure to meet. It has been stated that Ireland's total electricity demand has grown by 30% over

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding initiatives within his Department that seek to prioritise the fast tracking of offshore wind energy infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73598/25

question is about the provision of offshore wind energy and initiatives his Department might have put in place to fast-track that, particularly in the context of dealing with the frustrations of people who recognise that, as I understand it, there is currently no operating offshore wind capacity

renewable energy in this country. Offshore wind farms are an absolute obvious ask. It is shocking that we are not taking more energy from the wind and the waves that crash against the shores of this country. It is a crime we are not doing it. I welcome … right way to go about it. It should not be the case that someone can live in County Donegal and object to a wind farm off the coast of County Waterford when they have no locus standi and no basis to object to it. It is right that

families. Ireland has vulnerabilities. We rely heavily on natural gas and an expensive grid. The drive to sustainable and clean solar and wind-generated energy takes time. Thankfully, 40% of our energy is already renewable and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has suggested we will

with advancements in technology. I am receiving representations from every corner of my constituency in relation to the inadequacy of guidelines for wind farms. Renewable energy is absolutely essential

vulnerable, which tackle the root causes of energy poverty. The Government is working at speed to roll out more renewable energy infrastructure, both onshore and offshore, wind and solar. This is already helping to bring down the cost of electricity and is the long-term solution to high

wherever else we get it. Ultimately, that is not good enough. We need to deliver our own energy and invest in our own infrastructure, whether wind farms or solar, but we need to do it quickly

bring this to a conclusion. At some stage, we need some collective debate on energy. We are all dealing with individual cases of objections to solar, objections to gas generation, objections to wind onshore, and objections to wind offshore potentially. We desperately need the offshore wind. This … something we have got to progress through planning. I am hoping we can get wind farms built, certainly through 2030 to 2031. If we do not, then we are in trouble from an energy perspective. As a collective - when I say "collective", I mean the entire Oireachtas

south east. I know Rosslare Europort also has plans in respect of offshore renewable energy but the two ports complement each other because the Port of Waterford is seeking to support offshore wind turbine staging, assembly and maintenance operations. It is seeking to create a regional supply chain

berthing pontoons and two separate three-storey office and staff buildings for offshore renewable energy operators. This will allow the port to act in a supporting role for the construction of offshore wind farms, particularly through the storage of ancillary components for offshore wind, such as subsea cables … successfully procured 900 MW of ORE capacity to be delivered by ESB and Ørsted, marking a significant milestone in Ireland's offshore renewable energy ambitions. Subsequent auctions are due to take place in the coming years, providing a sufficient pipeline of projects for ports to service. This

grid and investment prices right. Cheap, abundant renewable energy is the single best industrial policy, climate policy and cost-of-living policy we can pursue as a country. That means acting in the common good. Communities that host wind farms or live beside data centres, especially large ones … this right, Ireland can move from being a price-taker at the end of a gas pipeline to being a clean energy powerhouse, cutting bills and emissions and strengthening our energy sovereignty. I thank the Minister of State and acknowledge his work since taking office. I encourage

energy sources. I have no problem in relation to having conversations on whatever technology. I would find it very difficult to talk about nuclear power without dealing with the issues of nuclear waste and talking about Chernobyl and Sellafield. However, we should be a wind power superpower

think of the projects even in my own constituency or off the coast of my constituency in the case of the Codling Wind Park and Dublin Array projects. They are hugely important projects but the level of investment from RWE or the contracting companies there is enormous before … That has to be a disincentive in real terms for companies that actually want to invest in our infrastructure, provide us with clean energy and help us to get to a point where we are actually a net energy exporter. That is really important. I appreciate what

comes to helping people with the difficulties with which they are dealing. I have heard other TDs talk about advancements in renewable energy. Some of the information here is quite amazing. Does the Minister of State know how many biodigesters are linked to the gas grid … fact that they can bring in renewable gas and help farmers, only one biodigester is plugged in. There were seven offshore wind turbines but they are being decommissioned. We now have no offshore wind turbines in the country. There have been more offshore wind conferences held

progressing with pace. In addition to that, we want to identify at least one but potentially two sites suitable for floating offshore wind, which really has great potential from an Irish perspective in the sense that it would give us the capacity to generate enormous amounts of electricity … imaginative projects which the ESB and others are involved in, looking at converting to hydrogen or ammonia as a methodology of storing the energy

people who are about to go on auto-enrolment in January, approximately 1.5 million recipients of social protection payments and zero offshore wind farms in this country that are operational. A magic number I just discovered is minus €250. The reason I really like numbers is that they … doing the other. Therefore, I thought I would run some numbers and seek some clarity. In the most recent budget, there were no energy credits like there were last year but there were increases to the fuel allowance, which I welcome. Yet, at the same time, the energy

foist these plants on their communities against their will without any engagement. They try to force these plants through, promoting the green energy and the wider benefit. Community groups feel concerned that they are kept in the dark by developers. Community engagement is critical. A biomethane charter that … other communities could be a one-to-one series of meetings if there is anything at all happening. It contrasts very much with wind farm developers who over recent years have learned lessons from earlier applications and are more engaged than previously. Good guidelines ensure greater transparency

remarkable litany of record-breaking climate events in the 12 months since COP29 in Azerbaijan, including Storm Éowyn which brought the strongest wind gusts ever recorded in Ireland and the highest storm surges on the western seaboard. We saw the damage that Storm Bram caused last week … protect at least 30% of land and oceans by 2030. The second thematic session took the form of a panel discussion on "Energy transition and ten years of the Paris Agreement: NDCs and financing". I expressed Ireland’s commitment to ensuring a just and inclusive energy transition pathway

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 if he will outline the reasons for this change in approach. [73427/25

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason Ireland is still behind in its offshore wind energy generated electricity in comparison with 20 years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63293/25

Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps his Department is taking to accelerate the delivery of offshore wind energy projects, including grid connection, planning timelines and port infrastructure readiness; the key barriers currently delaying deployment; and if he will make a statement

asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department have forecasted the viability of Ireland becoming a net exporter of wind energy by 2040; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73227/25

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding initiatives within his Department that seek to prioritise the fast tracking of offshore wind energy infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73598/25

engaged with the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage on the delay to the publication of an update to the wind energy guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72894/25

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to release new draft wind energy guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70190/25

Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update and timeline for publication of the updated wind energy guidelines. [67544/25

Heritage the guidelines in place for battery storage units, to protect communities, similar to the guidelines that have been in place for wind energy; if he is aware of local resident's concerns when planning for such facilities are sought; the safeguards which are in place for communities

Environment the steps he is taking to remove bureaucracy and red tape for the progress of infrastructural developments, such as wind and solar energy projects, designed to assist in meeting climate targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73218/25

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the proportion of energy generated by wind, solar and other technologies here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70133/25

Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total amount of wind power generation on the Irish grid as of the latest figures; the capacity added in 2025; and the projected amount to be added in 2026; and if he will make

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the recently closed offshore wind auction, Tonn Nua is a minimum cost of all electricity produced or consumed; to provide details of the estimated minimum for electricity consumed; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the proportion of the 2030 target for onshore wind that has been achieved (energised) to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72957/25

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to outline the proportion of the 2030 target for offshore wind that has been achieved (energised) to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72958/25

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to outline the proportion of the 2030 target for offshore wind capacity specifically for renewable hydrogen that has been achieved (energised) to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72960/25

Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department will develop a matched-funding model with corporate energy users, similar to a pilot (details supplied), to scale the redirection of surplus wind power into social housing and low-income private homes nationwide; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the impact the suitability of our waters will have on the development of offshore wind, and on reaching our climate targets; and if he will outline the recommendations of a report he recently received

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the impact the suitability of Ireland’s waters will have on the development of offshore wind in Ireland (details supplied) and on reaching our climate targets; if he will outline the recommendations of a report

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will publish an updated year-by-year trajectory to 2030 for renewable electricity generation, by onshore wind, offshore wind and solar PV capacity; the contingency measures he will introduce to stay on track

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will publish an updated year-by-year trajectory to 2030 for renewable electricity generation, broken down by onshore wind, offshore wind and solar PV capacity; the contingency measures he will introduce to stay

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his views on the proposal to make the construction of any additional data centres conditional on the coming on stream of additional wind generation capacity to power such centres; and if he will make a statement