Search the record

international levels that focused on issues of significance for Ireland, including climate and energy. I have since then established an offshore wind energy clearing house group, which brings together key players from the public and private sectors to tackle issues that are causing delays to the delivery

solutions. The clearing house in the Taoiseach's Department for offshore renewable energy is welcome. However, having spoken to developers of wind energy and long duration energy storage, the people who will help us to decentralise our grid, these stakeholders need to see action. In regard

called renewable energy for our grid. I am not at all convinced that the economic, environmental or infrastructural arguments relating to wind energy, for example, are as credible as people think, and I am extremely concerned about the lack of protections for many communities throughout the State … livestock having to be moved when a wind farm went into north Offaly. That is not fair. We need a balance between communities and corporate entities. I will end on electricity prices. As I have stated here previously, giving energy credits, which were welcomed by many struggling households

energy system. Renewable electricity generation has increased five-fold since 2005. Ireland has now reached approximately 8 GW of renewable generation capacity while wind energy supplied a record 50% of the State’s electricity in February 2026. The Government is prioritising offshore wind, with five phase 1 projects … billion ACRES. In respect of data centres, the Government’s position has been clear. We will focus on sustainable development of strategically significant energy-intensive industries, including data centres, through the Large Energy-User Action Plan published only this year and in alignment with Ireland’s broader Government

have all been in here previously talking about the absolute necessity of using wind energy. We need to see major moves as regards offshore wind. Where is the clearing house in relation to where the deficits lie and in terms of Belfast Port being the only port that

many warnings do we need? We need that pivot to decarbonisation and energy security. That means focusing more on offshore and onshore wind energy, making that happen and realising the moonshot moment famously mentioned a number of years ago by former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. We have not reached

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

believe in the transition away from fossil fuels to cleaner and renewable energy still recognise that gas will be that transition fuel for quite some time, recognising that the wind does not blow … time and the sun does not shine all the time. Last Friday, I launched the Government's next wave of offshore wind energy proposals. We are starting the process of developing a designated marine plan around our coastline which will identify sites suitable for fixed-bottom and floating

independence and environmental advancement. Imagine being able to share the wind turbine construction capabilities of Belfast Port. Imagine being able to divert unused wind energy across the island. Reunification offers an opportunity to take the measures that we need to ensure a sustainable future and to take

each from wind and solar. At the moment, we supply 11% of the country's power. Last month, Offaly was the largest wind energy provider in the country. That is a very significant national contribution. Yet, Offaly remains 10% below the national average for disposable income

major structural changes required to tap renewable energy in one of the countries most rich in it? Not only do we have offshore wind energy farms lying vacant all along our coast, but we also have ones like the foreknown Sceirde Rocks project in Connemara being cancelled earlier … energy credits and emergency supports is welcome but until we have a Government that is serious about creating structural changes in our climate and economic systems, we will have more motions and debates like this one, and the Irish people will still be left in the cold wind

commitment in the programme for Government to prioritise new wind farm guidelines. Wind is important and it is important we are able to utilise it as part of the solution to moving to cleaner energy. Last week I got a reply to a parliamentary question … guidelines remain in force and that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is currently undertaking a focus review of the 2006 wind energy guidelines and engaging on all aspects of it with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. That is the same reply

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

wish to raise the issue of energy developments in County Galway. My constituency has seen some of the highest concentration of wind energy projects across the State. There are proposals for a large solar project in Monivea and two large-scale gas-fired generation plants in Athenry

delivered by renewables. We have reached a milestone of 8 GW of onshore renewable electricity generation. We have more than doubled our wind energy capacity in just ten years. I mentioned last month's record 50% of our renewable electricity generation. We are now also prioritising the development

Ireland has one of the best offshore wind resources in Europe, yet progress in developing the sector has been slow due to regulatory hurdles, infrastructural challenges and delays in project approvals. Given the urgent need to decarbonise our energy system and meet our 2030 climate targets … what specific actions is the Government taking to streamline the planning process, attract investment and ensure that Ireland becomes a leader in offshore wind energy

have instances where this infrasound issue is allowed to go on and on, which, unfortunately, has happened. I have raised the issue of wind energy repeatedly through parliamentary questions, most recently to the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment when I asked him whether he would provide

Irish people regarding our energy security and help with surging costs. At the moment, while we have huge amounts of solar and wind energy, the grid cannot take it. The Minister of State is well aware of this. I welcome the fact that we had a meeting

send a message to the energy companies that their ongoing profiteering is not acceptable. Government needs to send that message. A report on wind energy was published this week. It stated that energy generation costs for the State are over €1.5 billion. Again, where are households and businesses

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

Offaly, we have seen the development of a significant infrastructure of wind turbines, solar farms and battery storage. In January alone, with only 2% of the country's landmass, Offaly was the top generator of renewable energy in the country. Many speakers come into this Chamber and tell … people who took a very ambitious step in recent years to ensure we could meet our ambitious targets. I ask that the wind energy guidelines be produced and published as soon as possible. With regard to home heating, I ask the Minister to look at measures like

need a green energy revolution. We need to stop burning imported oil, gas and fracked gas and to move to domestic solar and wind energy. We need to make this as accessible for people as possible, which is why we have put forward solar for all proposals

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

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

regarding the increasing scale of turbine proposals, particularly turbines exceeding traditional height thresholds, are being considered as part of the ongoing review of wind energy planning guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65792/25

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to implement new draft wind energy guidelines;and if he will make a statement on the matter.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60285/25

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to implement new draft wind energy guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60322/25

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the updated wind energy guidelines will be published; the reasons for the prolonged and ongoing delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64278/25

Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport the steps being taken by his Department to implement a coordinated, multi-port development strategy for offshore wind energy; if he will provide details of the planned investment, site designations, and timelines to expand available laydown space and quayside infrastructure

Department of Health to provide its position on wind turbines, given environmental noise affects human health and that the current 2006 Section 28 Wind Energy Development Guidelines provide no specific health protection standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58203/25

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for publication of the updated wind energy guidelines. [56583/25

Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given that the Programme for Government identifies the publication of new section 28 Wind Energy Development Guidelines as a priority, if the Strategic Environmental Assessment process for these guidelines has commenced; if so, when this process began

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the latest update on the publication of new wind energy guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54631/25

Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline when the new wind energy development guidelines will be published; and if the inclusion of ISO, or equivalent, standards for community engagement practices will form part of those guidelines

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the draft wind energy development guidelines; and when updated guidelines will be brought forward. [49213/25

Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to advise when updated wind energy guidelines will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51317/25

Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on his Department’s review of ##wind energy development guidelines and the publication of the revised guidelines. [40847/25

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the publication of the wind energy guidelines. [41277/25

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he anticipates revising the wind energy development guidelines for planning authorities. [43578/25

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a timeline for the publication of new wind energy guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35608/25

Climate Action Plan 2024 for when the revised wind guidelines will be published and the review into the 2006 wind energy development guidelines completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36260/25

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on wind energy guidelines; the date on which updated guidelines will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30278/25

Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the documents proposing the review of the 2019 wind energy and development guidelines and the outcomes of the analysis to date, with all relevant working papers, will be published; the cost to date in developing

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the commitment to provide a timeline for publication of the wind energy guidelines 2025; to provide an update; to provide a timeline for publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27825/25

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the delayed wind energy guidelines will be published; the reason for the continue delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27493/25

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on when the new wind energy guidelines will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24029/25

place between officials from his Department and officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to onshore and offshore wind energy projects planning guidelines to ensure their mutual compatibility in relation to, for example, noise, flicker and height to distance ratios

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the expansion of the offshore wind energy taskforce. [17284/25

Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update regarding Ireland’s post-2030 wind energy strategy; if work is underway to develop a policy document in this regard; when he expects that work to be complete