Search the record

Bill and for the development of Government proposals before the end of 2026, specifically the finalisation of the national planning statement on wind energy. I thank Deputy Stanley for bringing forward this Private Members’ Bill regarding the regulation of wind turbines. He spoke with passion and a real … depth of understanding of the topic itself. This Bill is no doubt well intended and aims to regulate wind energy development by addressing a number of key issues. However, I am this evening proposing a timing amendment as I believe that many of the matters raised in this

being met in the near term and there are plans to move to net zero by 2050. The deployment of renewable electricity, including wind energy, is vital to Ireland meeting its ambitious domestic targets and international commitments. The commencement of Chapters 1 to 4, inclusive, of Part … guidelines will, however, remain in force until revoked or replaced by a corresponding national planning statement. Subsequently, this means new guidance on wind energy development will issue as a national planning statement following review of the existing 2006 wind energy development guidelines. While this has been ongoing

Government is confident that, while the review is being finalised and the planning system is capable of assessing applications for wind for wind energy development, connection proposals for wind energy development are subject to the same statutory requirements as other forms of proposed development. In making decisions … planning applications for any type of development, including wind energy development, any planning authority or board, as appropriate, must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. The 2006 wind energy guidelines remain in force and planning authorities and the board must have regard to these

mean a much greater need for energy. It will be energy intensive. Data centres are going to be important in that regard. Offshore wind energy is critical for this. That is why I have convened a clearing house, involving industry and the Government, to deal with macro issues … take that long. On nuclear, we may very well import nuclear through various connectors. We are putting a lot of funding into wind energy, offshore wind in particular, and some onshore wind and some solar. It is interesting. There are people who have come

regard to wind and solar energy development. From a planning perspective, the programme for Government contains commitments to prioritise the publication of the wind energy development guidelines and to introduce new planning guidelines for solar energy development. With regard to the wind energy development guidelines, the review … aims to strike an appropriate balance between addressing the concerns of local communities by ensuring there is greater and earlier community engagement by wind energy developers. While the review of the guidelines has been ongoing for years – it has been going on too long - significant progress has been

will change again at the end of September, and it is time for it to be reformed. I am a supporter of wind energy and of solar, biogas, hydrogen and hydro energy. We need to use all the renewable sources we have. According to the answer … balance works out at a positive of €549 million. The companies involved are highly profitable. We were told that when we had wind energy and renewable energy, particularly wind energy, it would be a lot cheaper. That has not turned out to be the case. It has turned

renewable energy is something that we could see being implemented very quickly now. One of the issues with the renewable energy system, particularly wind energy, relates to surplus wind energy that happens at night. When energy is not able to be used by the grid, it is effectively … tanks of many people across the country. It could be charging electric car batteries and so on. Having a national strategy for surplus wind energy is really key. I urge the Government to consider my Bill and to put every effort into bringing forward a strategy in this

staff for bringing forward this important motion. I particularly want to share my concern that despite a target of 5 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030, no offshore wind projects have been delivered. Ireland has huge potential to become a global leader in wind energy, particularly through … plenty of work here. Surely fishing towns in Donegal such as Killybegs and Greencastle would be prime spots in which to develop offshore wind energy, but once again, we have been held back by a lack of infrastructure. In a session of the Joint Committee on Fisheries

last week of this session and we still do not have them. It is absolutely outrageous that we are developing onshore wind energy with planning guidelines that are 20 years old. It is crazy. How are we supposed to be taken seriously in respect of climate change … wind turbine developments in County Mayo deserve better. These communities are crying out for national guidelines that will force the developers of these wind energy facilities to adhere to guidelines. In the absence of such guidelines, however, it is like a free-for-all. These communities deserve respect

ability as Minister of State with responsibility for planning to place a pause on any type of planning application, be that for housing, wind energy, infrastructural projects or any other type of development. The 2006 wind energy development guidelines will remain in force pending the finalisation of revised … comes from renewable sources. In the interim, at local level, the city and county development plans set out where development is acceptable, including wind energy development. I can assure the Deputy that I am acutely conscious of the commitment in the Programme for Government 2025 - Securing Ireland

same. The most recent one I got from the Minister stated that his "Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines", which is looking at a number of key issues including the noise aspect of the guidelines, which is highly technical … media reaction. It is the people who elect us, not the media and they are who we need to represent. The Irish Wind Energy Association, which represents wealthy investors, has done an excellent job. The association is regularly in and out of these buildings. The propaganda

things is that given the number of wind turbines that have been pushed through planning at the moment, it is not about wind energy. Cian Murtagh is a lecturer in Sligo and he has looked at Ireland’s energy mix. For the month of October, we paid … costs and over €300 million in the last three months, taking money from every household to give to people who are profiting from wind energy. This is a business case in terms of what people are doing. They are flooding the market with these now. How many

this really has to be the catalyst for us moving to renewables. I was shocked to hear that we used to produce more wind energy than we do now. As I said in this Chamber recently, if people go to the west coast, they will nearly be blown … over. Therefore, I am at a loss as to why we do not have more wind energy. The programme for Government indicates that the Government wants to deliver at least 5 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030, and there are greater ambitions

Progress has been made in this regard. The Department is working towards the publication of a wind energy national planning statement as a matter of priority. The programme for Government commits to prioritising publication and review of the guidelines, which will form a national planning statement. The Department … finalise a national planning statement having regard to evolving policy, public consultations and technical contexts while having appropriate regard to the impact of wind energy developments. It is imperative that a robust up-to-date policy is provided that will take account of the evolved policy and legislative

Following on from constructive discussions at the Government industry forum on offshore renewable energy that I hosted last July, I established the offshore wind energy clearing house. The offshore wind energy clearing house is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach and members include … Climate, Energy and the Environment; Enterprise, Tourism and Employment; Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; and so forth; and representatives from Wind Energy Ireland, Marine Renewables Industry Association, Renewable Energy Ireland and NOW Ireland. Its first meeting was in September last year and we have

comes in. It presents an opportunity for regional development in a way we have not had before. Deputy McAuliffe just mentioned energy. Onshore wind energy along the west coast is in surplus, and I hope this will eventually be the case for offshore wind energy. It will … Dublin region. However, the west coast and western region, from Mayo all the way up to Donegal, is ripe for development because of wind energy. For data, you need good links or connections. All the transatlantic cables come ashore in the region. The workforce requirements are limited enough

thank the Minister of State. I have no doubt about the value of offshore wind energy to local communities, particularly, where it is being landed onshore, and about the benefits it brings. I am aware of the community benefit funds, which the Minister of State mentioned. Two major … community. I am aware that it is working hard on the development of information. There is a lot of misinformation about wind energy, particularly offshore wind energy, and about the environmental benefits and clean energy generated. Can we put measures in place that empower locally elected representatives

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

households in arrears. People are unable to pay for the basics in a country that is supposedly rich. Some €523 million worth of wind energy was wasted last year because of our crumbling grid infrastructure. That was 10% of all the wind energy produced. Meanwhile, the Government … global uncertainty. Wholesale electricity prices in Ireland are nearly four times higher than in Spain. Spain is now producing enough solar and wind energy that electricity prices are no longer tied to gas. While the Irish Government has dithered and delayed, Spain has delivered. We can act quickly

costs five cent to boil a kettle. I am not here for sound bites; I am here for actual engineering being put down. Wind energy must be part of our future, that is clear. In that context, however, local communities cannot be an afterthought. I commend Deputy Stanley … capability of generating so much energy on our little island. Deputy Fleming mentioned the sale of energy to France. Solar farms and wind energy facilities - and I have heard other Deputies mention this - are turning off their renewable projects because the grid cannot take the energy. When representatives

that. It makes no sense that we live on a windy island on the edge of Europe yet are so far behind on wind energy and solar energy. We have put forward proposals to increase the grants for solar panels to help households permanently reduce their electricity bills … street parking. Years later, it just has not got around to that. That is before we talk about the inability to develop wind energy. There is no one from Fine Gael in the Chamber but it is 15 years since Fine Gael took office and we have

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

propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 39, 85, 532 and 533 together. My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 wind energy development guidelines which will inform a new national planning statement on wind energy under the new Planning and Development Act 2024. The review … regard to the intended public consultation and the impact of associated reforms and reviews including the revision of the NPF. The current 2006 wind energy development guidelines remain in force, pending the finalisation of that review

today we have the most expensive electricity in all of Europe. That happened not by accident but by design. When it came to wind energy, it was all about the profits of the few, the insiders. Communities saw turbines popping up around them. These turbines should ensure electricity … that hill; half of them are switched off during the day because we do not have the electricity infrastructure to avail of wind energy. What was it about? It was about making profits for the people who developed those wind farms, not about reducing costs for our people

start, I commend Deputy Stanley for bringing forward this Bill and the huge work that has gone into it so far. The current wind energy guidelines date back to 2006 and in my view, they are, put simply, not fit for purpose. In 2006, wind turbines were … just after being launched. There was no such thing as Instagram, WhatsApp or TikTok. Technological advancements have rocketed in this time but the wind energy guidelines have stayed static and have not evolved. We cannot lose sight, or ever forget, that communities are at the heart of this

Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of health-related statements currently published on Wind Energy Ireland’s website (details supplied); if she will confirm whether the quotation accurately reflects her Departments official position and the current scientific and public health evidence … base; if her Department has authorised or approved the use of this statement in public communications by Wind Energy Ireland, given that her Department has previously contacted Wind Energy Ireland regarding health messaging; and if she will make a public statement clarifying her Department’s position in order

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when new wind energy guidelines for offshore wind energy developments will be published; the reason for the delay with these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21149/25

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider placing a pause on all wind energy developments until the new wind energy guidelines are published; when he expects the revised guidelines to be published and if he will make a statement

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when new wind energy planning guidelines for onshore wind energy developments will be published; the reason for the delay with these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21148/25

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update on the provision of wind energy; the targets for its provision in 2026; whether there are sufficient resources in place to ensure that offshore wind energy can be on-shored

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 Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the development of offshore wind energy projects including, Codling Wind Park, Dublin Array and Arklow Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23606/26

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason consumers continue to pay for renewable (wind) energy through the public service obligation to wind farms that directed to dispatch-down their production. [39503/26

Heritage if he can confirm if operating wind farms pose a health risk, given that all three published revisions of the 2006 wind energy development guidelines state that wind turbine noise must align with World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, while existing wind farms generally operate at noise limits

Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the methodology used to attribute wind energy generation to individual counties, including the way in which generation is assigned where wind farms span more than one local authority area or where output is reported at regional

there are specific development guidelines for the development of large-scale fossil-fuel-bio-fuel powered energy projects similar to the 2006 wind energy guidelines (details supplied); if not, whether his Department have any plans to develop or draft guidelines for such developments; and if he will make

Government and Heritage if his Department has any plans to develop or draft development guidelines for solar energy projects similar to the 2006 wind energy guidelines (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46392/25

there are specific development guidelines for the development of large-scale fossil-fuel-bio-fuel powered energy projects similar to the 2006 wind energy guidelines (details supplied); if not, whether his Department have any plans to develop or draft guidelines for such developments; and if he will make

which the findings of the independent analysis on repowering and lifetime extension will inform the forthcoming National Planning Statement on Wind Energy and the development of a policy framework for existing onshore wind farms; whether he accepts that delays in providing such a framework risk the loss

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

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 the reasons for this change in approach. [60457/25

Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the timely publication of the National Planning Statement relating to onshore wind energy is considered necessary to support the Government’s target of generating 80% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and the delivery … stated 4,333 MW of required onshore wind capacity; whether he has engaged with the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment regarding its publication as a priority in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64434/26

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to the Arklow bank wind farm report (details supplied); the progress made to deliver offshore wind energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65764/26

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 John Clendennen asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total annual electricity generation from wind energy, in megawatt-hours or gigawatt-hours, attributable to each county in the State for each of the past five years, the data source used; and if he will

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the status of Ireland’s offshore wind energy projects, particularly the 5 GW target for 2030; the measures being taken to expedite planning, consenting, and grid connection processes to meet this goal; and if he will

Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the amount of funding developers of wind energy farms have received from the State in the previous ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54064/25

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update on offshore wind energy projects off the Dublin coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47459/25

asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on development of offshore wind capacity; the status of the offshore wind energy programme; progress on developments on the Wicklow and Wexford coastlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27633/26

Environment, Climate and Communications the Government’s long-term plan for ensuring a reliable and clean flexible power system to back up wind energy generation, particularly as Ireland continues to increase its dependence on wind power to meet climate targets. [18004/25