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will give the House an example of Government incompetence. Over the last 15 years, the Government has had five international conferences on offshore wind energy. The Government has paid for five conferences and invited Ministers from all around the world and experts in companies to those five conferences … offshore wind energy. On the other side of the equation, how many wind turbines do we have offshore? Zero. We have had more conferences on offshore wind turbines in this country than we have offshore wind turbines. You could not make this up. If you were to create

been decommissioned since, so we have actually gone backwards in that respect. Last year we lost over half a billion euro worth of wind energy, which was wasted because our crumbling grid infrastructure could not cope with that wind energy. We are an island on the edge … Atlantic, yet we are not availing of this. We should be a net exporter of wind energy but we are nowhere near it because of this Government's failures. We see too the issues with pensioner poverty. Incredible and stark figures have been released by the Central Statistics

auctions in 2023. Three years on, there is still not one of those feeding into the grid. At the same time, every time wind energy industry representatives comes into this House and talk to TDs, they say An Coimisiún Pleanála does not have enough staff … Pleanála and he is not giving any more. That is the barrier the industry experts have cited to us in getting our offshore wind energy system online. The barriers are lack of staff in An Coimisiún Pleanála to undertake this scrutiny. It is not judicial reviews

point where Shannon Airport's and other airports' primary radar and secondary radar are protected by insisting that all wind energy zonings within a five- to eight-kilometre radius must be removed. It is not safe. It has been deemed that by the aviation regulator and by AirNav … Ireland. It is wrong that our wind energy policy still aligns with something from ten years ago when people, who know about aviation safety, are now saying it is unsafe. That should have been included by way of a miscellaneous provision in this Bill and I hope

appreciate the opportunity to raise this extremely important issue. It has been pointed out that last week alone, over €15 million of renewable wind energy was wasted. According to EirGrid, 18% of wind energy was wasted in 2026. For people who do not know, EnergyCloud is delivering free

currently dealing with. In April I received a response to a parliamentary question which stated that a review of the 2006 wind energy development guidelines had been undertaken as part of a national planning statement on wind energy under the Planning and Development Act 2024. Included in this … clear commitment was made to me here last December. When will the Government produce new guidelines for modern technology for onshore wind farms

when Irish households' electricity bills are shooting up, renewable energy is being wasted at scale. According to EirGrid, in April 2026, 18% of wind energy was wasted. This is why we need more energy storage in Ireland. The concept is simple. Battery storage captures renewable electricity when wind … indication to the industry of how much battery storage is anticipated. Action 9 requires the creation of a market framework to incentivise energy storage technologies. Wind and solar electricity have the renewable energy support scheme. Energy storage needs similar financial certainty to incentivise development. Two years after

would need in order to deal with our emissions, but also to have a very strong renewable energy system. We have less offshore wind energy now than 20 years ago. Twenty years ago, we were a world leader in offshore wind. We had the Arklow Bank but that

believe actually works. The scale of the problem we face at the moment is significant. We are curtailing clean energy on a massive scale. We are switching off wind farms, solar installations and renewable sources because the grid cannot absorb what it is generating. At the same time … operators, DSOs, while we are limited here. The valid concern that I have raised about the community benefit fund, which we see with wind energy, would be addressed directly. I know that more can be done on this Bill and I look forward to working constructively with members

have nearly 100 data centres across the State. At the same time, the Government is rushing to build wind turbines across rural Ireland but much of that energy is wasted because our national … grid is simply not fit for purpose. The community of Ballytobin has a modest, reasonable ask - no more wind farms until the national wind energy development guidelines are updated. It has been 20 years since they were last revised. Building regulations are updated constantly to keep people safe

talking about in terms of the cost of energy. It is my strongly held view and that of the Government that if we bring more renewables onto the grid from our own resources - from wind and solar within our remit - we will reduce our dependence on imported fossil … working through it but it would be foolhardy to just say that because we have a plan to capture effectively 20 GW of wind energy, and some additional solar on shore out to 2040, we can somehow ignore the necessity to store gas as we transition away from

really significant figure of 8 GW of renewable energy integrated into our system. Yes, of course we need to do more. One gigawatt powers about 500,000 homes. That is what we are talking about. Our wind capacity has doubled in ten years. We have added … regard. In the meantime, we need more onshore wind and more onshore solar. To answer the questions some Deputies have raised about the wind energy guidelines, the revised guidelines will be published and made available this year. I get the point in that regard. The revised guidelines will

interconnector to France, which has been delayed, put in place? It has been repeated many times, but we have less offshore wind energy now than we did 20 years ago. I was on Brittas beach at the weekend enjoying the weather and looking at the seven pillars

know the Minister is walking a tightrope and it is very difficult to get the proper balance. We have been waiting for the wind energy guidelines for 21 years. Fine Gael promised two elections ago that we would have them in 12 months. Councils are at a loss

mistake that any Government made was to close it down in one go before we were assured that we had enough energy options, such as more wind turbines or whatever it is. We could be deriving more energy from our rivers. We are deprived of and stopped from … anything else, to stay in our country and to vote confidence in it by staying here. We need other options for energy. Until we have enough wind power and ways of storing the energy that is created by wind turbines, we need an alternative in the meantime. People

have decoupled growth from emissions; — Ireland is at the forefront of transitioning to an electricity system dominated by variable renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, and indeed renewable sources generated almost half of Ireland's electricity in February, March and April of this year; — significant investment … most impactful measures. For example, Ireland is at the forefront of transitioning to an electricity system dominated by variable renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, and we have achieved record breaking levels of renewable electricity generation, reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels. Most notably, emissions

Government maintains that it is acutely aware of the pressure faced by people due to high energy costs and mentions the national energy affordability task force. It has been sitting for over a year but we are still going to have to wait until quarter 3 of this … Government has been failing on climate action. We have huge potential with the hopeful vision of the 540 GW of renewable energy in offshore wind. We can achieve energy independence but we need State investment. As the Minister of State knows, we have the highest electricity prices

damaging and bad and that we have got to wean ourselves off them quickly. We are working very hard to capture renewable energy, whether wind or solar, and we are doing it in a plan-led and strategic way so that we can, from climate change and emissions

renewables capacity; and — no offshore wind power generation capacity will be available before 2030 despite a 5 GW target; further notes that: — Ireland has the highest electricity prices in the European Union, and over 500,000 households are in arrears on their energy bills; — the increased and inflexible … electricity prices, carbon emissions, water usage and grid stability; — introduce a moratorium on the further construction of data centres until renewable energy from offshore wind comes online, and households and businesses can benefit from lower energy costs; — introduce a levy on the energy usage of data centres

glaringly obvious to most people that the simple solution to our energy crisis issues is to invest in indigenous sources of energy, such as wind and solar, something that could have been ramped up immediately following the energy crisis in 2022. The Government failed to act then

problem with it being temporary or emergency, he should accept the amendments. The Minister mentioned renewable energy and the progress that, he says, has been made with offshore wind. However, in our view and in the view of some Government people also, the Government and previous Governments have … pathway to energy security but we are still vulnerable because of the failure to invest over the years in offshore wind, in renewables and in our energy future. As we move towards a united Ireland, we need to have an energy system that is destined to be used

choose a renewables-led system, rapid offshore wind delivery and grid upgrades. It can demand side measures that cut bills, partnerships with communities that give people a stake and a say, transparent Government and value for money. Sinn Féin chooses energy sovereignty and common sense. We choose … exemptions, respect communities in County Clare and across the island, redirect the €1 billion to help accelerate offshore wind and grid resilience and deliver an energy system that is clean secure, affordable and Irish

demand flexibility and reducing dispatch down rates and allow us to be able to deploy our energy, and particularly renewable energy sources, at times when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining. It will be possible to store that energy and then deploy

increase grid capacity and generation. What we have done in a ten-year period, when we look at generation of energy, is we have doubled wind capacity and there has been more than a 1,000% increase in solar, with a very good pipeline coming forward for more … grid resilience is there. There are backups to ensure the grid remains safe, such as fault ride through, which is there for large energy users also. This policy is one that is agreed by CRU in consultation with stakeholders

about guaranteeing Irish energy security but about managing the failure of the Government to invest properly in offshore wind and to make the necessary progress to ensuring energy independence and energy security. Despite being warned of the dangers of this for years, Ireland continues to rely on imports

Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the new wind energy guidelines to replace the 2006 guidelines on wind energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45949/26

Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current status of offshore wind energy on the west coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44557/26

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if Ireland is on course to meet off-shore wind energy targets by 2030; if he will outline the consequences if these targets are not reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter

asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the measures his Department has put in place to ensure that Ireland is utilising wind energy grid infrastructure that we have put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44558/26

Climate, Energy and the Environment the progress that has been made in addressing the planning, grid and delivery bottlenecks identified in the Offshore Wind Energy Programme Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44689/26

Environment the engagement his Department has had with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the review and update of the Wind Energy Development Guidelines; the input his Department has provided to that process; the way in which the revised guidelines will support Ireland's energy

Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the updated Wind Energy Guidelines will be published.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48850/26

Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when Ireland's planning framework for wind energy development will be brought fully into alignment with current European Union environmental obligations and jurisprudence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48851/26

asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans for the introduction of comprehensive cumulative impact assessment requirements for large-scale wind energy developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48853/26

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage the number of wind energy projects currently within the planning system in the State; the total generating capacity in MW associated with these projects; to provide a breakdown by county, stage in the planning process including

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage the number of wind energy projects that have received planning permission but have not yet commenced construction; the total generating capacity in MW represented by these projects; the length of time elapsed since permission was granted

asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authorities that have a dedicated “Local Authority Renewable Strategy or Wind Energy Strategy” as part of their County Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47582/26

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

Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department has considered the Offshore Wind Action Plan 2026 published by an organisation (details supplied); the steps being taken by his Department to ensure the delivery of offshore wind projects; and if he will

Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether plans are in place for the re-powering and extension of existing wind farms in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45952/26

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the measures being taken to support hydrogen demonstration projects before large-scale offshore wind generation becomes available in the early 2030s; if EirGrid has identified locations where surplus renewable electricity could support electrolysers before

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding any further initiatives proposed by his Department to increase the support for offshore wind infrastructure in coastal communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43425/26

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the community benefit fund or direct financial benefit that will be made available to residents living in proximity to the proposed Longford wind turbine. [44607/26

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is aware of the Environmental Protection Agency's latest greenhouse gas emissions projections (details supplied); the reasons for this reduction in projected renewable electricity penetration; the extent to which delays to offshore wind projects, delays to the Celtic Interconnector