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substation in west Limerick in order to allow the company to sell its clean energy to the grid. We are talking about an energy crisis, and the ESB is looking for €3.8 million. During the first part of the meeting on the matter, the ESB looked … State sit over there knowing that this is happening in respect of solar farms throughout the country? I am in favour of wind energy in circumstances where the health implications are taken into account. I am for solar energy because it can have a dual use. In fact

turbine regulations and guidelines. Where are they? I am raising this in the House for the past 14 years. We need to utilise wind energy. It is very important that we do that as part of the move towards green energy. However, we do not have … date guidelines, never mind regulations, for large turbines. Every Minister for planning and energy has promised them over the past 14 years. Communities are highlighting this throughout the country. In Laois, large turbines are planned to be erected right across the south of the county. These are massive

regarding the guidelines. The factual position is that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is progressing a focused review of the wind energy development guidelines. The review is examining a number of key aspects, including noise, setback distances, shadow flicker, community obligation and dividend and grid … informed, is highly technical in nature. The Departments have also been engaging on proposals regarding the measurement and assessment of noise from wind turbines to ensure they are robust and fit for purpose, having regard to various targets that have been set. Further to this engagement

maintaining and expanding our working harbours, supporting small-scale fishers or investing in other infrastructure. The blue economy - fishing, tourism, aquaculture, renewable energy, sea safety, trade and maritime defence - are neglected in this document. The draft framework needs clearer targets, named projects and guaranteed delivery in every county … becoming more dangerous, congested and inadequate every day. There are harbours that barely have water due to a lack of dredging. Developing offshore wind energy was spoken about, yet one cannot even get a punt out of a harbour. This draft lacks urgency, vision and a tangible plan

cynical political stunt because the Government has withdrawn them in the harder times that are here now. The failure to deal with the energy companies is unforgivable because it was Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil policy that gave away what was a proud electrification system built … have a failure, not only in how the Government privatised what was a proud publicly owned amenity but then, if we look at wind energy on land, half the turbines are turned off because the electricity infrastructure is not there. If we look at offshore renewable energy

ever-increasing, and already huge, electricity bills. We want to do renewable energy in a very different way. Rather than excessive commodification of energy for profit, we would treat it as a public good and translate that into national wealth, increased community ownership, proper consultation and fair … supposed to be in the Atlantic economic corridor. That has to mean more than just a phrase. The opportunities there for offshore wind energy generation would alleviate all of this, help us to meet our targets and do what we need to do in the first place

People are being crippled here. The Government knows this. Homeowners and small businesses are being absolutely crippled with electricity costs. We know that wind energy plays a critical role in reducing those costs. It is important the amendments to this legislation put forward by Sinn Féin are taken … company that charged the bills. We handed it over and wrecked the model we had. What is worse is that the wind turbines we have put all across the country are not feeding into the grid. We are not getting the full benefit of them to reduce costs

ramifications, we all know about the ecological collapse and energy independence. We know that there is a need for clean energy and to reduce the bills of consumers but the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and the Climate Change Advisory Council have said that it could cost … unallocated savings? What we need from the Minister are urgent measures such as the publication of the land use review, the onshore wind energy guidelines and the marine protected areas legislation. Where are those

Minister is restrained in what he can say. He is the Minister for agriculture, not energy and communications. I take his point about solar that the Department is providing for rooftops. That scheme is very much welcome. However, we are seeing the landscape transforming in front … concern we are expressing. We are not saying we are against solar farms; we are clearly not. They are as necessary as wind energy. A large, industrial biodigester was built in my area of Little Island a numbers years ago. Nobody objected to it. The community was actually

concern and are very divisive. They are all being led by private investors. To give a few examples, in Athenry, Bord Gáis Energy is proposing to build the Cashla peaker plant 2.5 km from Athenry town. This is an open-cycle gas turbine plant with a capacity … massively from them. The Government is failing communities due to the absence of a plan-led approach with regard to these developments. The wind energy development guidelines are completely out of date. We are told that solar guidelines are starting to be developed, but there is little information

time, there is now a housing Commissioner at EU level, which the Minister is well-aware of, in Dan Jørgensen, the Commissioner for energy and housing. A key priority is to ensure we can see reform of state aid rules in order that homes can be built … also see a new green industrial revolution and the creation of hundreds of thousands of new jobs through the roll-out of wind energy and solar power through emerging technologies. I welcome the appointment of a socialist commissioner, Teresa Ribera, who is now the Commissioner for a Clean

solar, but if you want to run a home on solar energy - I listened to a person recently who is getting solar energy – you are talking about a cost of €17,000 to €20,000. The grant is €1,800. That is paltry. In the name … knocking on the door of Moffat in Scotland for our fuel and we were to have independence in terms of fuel, wind energy and solar, but we did not. Nothing happened. We seem to be brain-blocked. Barryroe field was there to be explored

what more can be done in the budget in October to assist with what is an energy crisis for the world and an energy affordability crisis for many people. We have taken a number of measures in the here and now to try to assist people with fuel … making progress. We have seen electricity generation from renewables increase fivefold since 2005. In February, which was only a couple of months ago, wind energy provided a record 50% of our electricity and Ireland has reached a record circa 8 GW of renewable generation capacity, up from only

appreciate Minister of State is here but I thought the Minister for energy would be before us today because the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, is before us every day of the week on every issue. He will soon become Taoiseach of the country. He had a great … people but those who are drilling out there - and then put in our renewables. Where are our wind energy and solar panels? If it costs €20,000, you get €1,800 back in a grant. We are not on the real planet here. We are out of touch

they are targeted at those who need them most. Under the Social Democrats' alternative budget, roughly 800,000 households would receive a €400 energy credit. Many public services that are free or heavily subsidised in other countries are exorbitantly priced here. Childcare is just one example. Fine Gael … transfer staff in the sector into a public model. We are in a climate crisis, yet somehow Ireland is now producing less offshore wind energy than it did 20 years ago. That is an astonishing fact. With a bit of ambition, it would be possible not only

only project, the small-scale renewable electricity support scheme provides a fixed 15-year tariff for the development of smaller scale solar and wind energy projects up to 6 MW. This tariff is set by the Minister. However, such export projects are not eligible for the separate

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

skills, we have great, educated people here, but we need to reskill to have more trades and more practical work. With regard to wind energy and solar, why is it always big companies that are coming into communities to do these projects? CRH is trying to build

There is now a health and safety onus and a moral obligation to ensure that land proximate to wind turbines is dezoned from wind energy to safeguard key national radar infrastructure

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach to provide an update on the work of the Cabinet offshore wind energy clearing house. [29768/26

Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Taoiseach to provide an update on the work of the Cabinet offshore wind energy clearing house. [29770/26

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Taoiseach to provide an update on the work of the Cabinet offshore wind energy clearing house. [29773/26

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Taoiseach to provide an update on the work of the Cabinet offshore wind energy clearing house. [30323/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the Cabinet offshore wind energy clearing house. [29036/26

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the Cabinet offshore wind energy clearing house. [29039/26

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the contribution of onshore wind farms to reducing electricity prices for consumers in rural areas like County Offaly; if alternatives such as biomass will be prioritised to avoid over-reliance on wind; and if he will

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of offshore wind infrastructure project proposals that have received no formal bids in relation to their construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74748/25

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

support the deployment of demand flexibility technologies in Ireland’s electricity system, with a view to reducing renewable energy curtailment and maximising the use of surplus wind power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56765/25

Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide the commissioning date and the annual energy output for the renewable electricity support scheme wind farm projects (details supplied) located in County Offaly, broken down by quarter, for each year since commissioning; the community benefit

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the percentage of energy used in 2025 that was generated by indigenous wind power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14524/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of planned offshore wind farms; the stages of progression in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74746/25

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 Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate; Energy and the Environment the status of all proposed offshore wind farm projects off the Irish coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39467/26

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total number of operational onshore wind farms in each of the past three years; the total annual electricity generated by onshore wind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39473/26

Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the strategy for the recycling of wind turbines in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27743/26

Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the timeline for the development of wind farms off the coast of Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42071/25

Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the amount of electricity generated by wind farms in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30238/25

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 Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to address concerns raised in relation to wind farms (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37584/26

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will report on the Offshore Wind Delivery taskforce; the breakdown of all of the times the taskforce met since its inception; the dates these meetings took place, in tabular form; who was in attendance

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the full delivery chain required for offshore wind deployment; the elements presenting the greatest delivery risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9711/26

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the estimated grid connection timelines for offshore wind projects currently in the development pipeline, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9734/26

Transport the current heavy lift capacity, quay length and laydown space available across Irish ports for offshore renewable energy construction; the way in which this compares with projected offshore wind deployment requirements to 2030, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9718/26

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the allocation of community benefit funds from wind farm projects in County Offaly in 2025; the way these funds are distributed to affected residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7559/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding the decommissioning of a wind farm (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74744/25

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the proportion of the 5GW of offshore wind targeted for 2030 that will be energised by 2030; the proportion that will be under construction by 2030; the proportion, if any, that will have yet to begin

Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding the acceleration of offshore wind development under the Climate Action Plan 2025, including progress on grid integration and planning reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60514/25

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the plans in place to accelerate offshore wind development to meet the 2030 targets and diversify our renewable portfolio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58544/25

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total capacity output available under existing wind generation schemes; the projected output if all wind farms currently at various stages of the planning system were to come to fruition; and if he will make