Topics / Solar Energy Guidelines

A subject heading for parliamentary questions

Solar Energy Guidelines

77 questions from 28 TDs, between 20 February 2025 and 20 October 2026.

77
questions
75 written, 2 oral
28
TDs have asked
8
parties and groups
Independents counted together
8
departments asked

Questions per month

The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.

Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
MonthQuestions
January 20250
February 20253
March 20250
April 20250
May 20252
June 20250
July 20253
August 20250
September 20252
October 20254
November 20254
December 20255
January 20262
February 20264
March 20264
April 202613
May 202616
June 20267
July 20260
August 20260
September 20264
October 20264

Who asks, by party

The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.

  • Fianna Fáil12 from 6 TDs · 48 seats today
  • Fine Gael24 from 7 TDs · 38 seats today
  • Green Party5 from 1 TD · 1 seat today
  • Independent13 from 3 TDs · 15 seats today
  • Labour Party3 from 2 TDs · 11 seats today
  • People Before Profit-Solidarity2 from 1 TD · 3 seats today
  • Sinn Féin15 from 7 TDs · 39 seats today

The TDs who asked most

Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.

  1. 11
  2. 11
  3. 7
  4. 5
  5. 5
  6. 5
  7. 3
  8. 3

Asked of

Debated under the same heading

Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.

The questions

Darren O'Rourke Written 20 Oct 2026 · to Climate
230. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the details of the land use strategy in relation to the use of land for solar energy; and the way in which this will inform Government policy. [74501/26]
Seán Kyne Written 13 Oct 2026 · to Housing
465. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will consider introducing a moratorium on the approval of new solar farm developments pending the publication of updated national solar farm planning guidelines; and whether such moratoriums or prohibitions are legally possible. [72269/26]
Noel McCarthy Written 1 Oct 2026 · to Housing
117. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the proposed establishment of national planning guidelines for solar energy developments. [69123/26]
Darren O'Rourke Written 1 Oct 2026 · to Housing
143. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when planning guidelines for solar energy, particularly utility scale solar, will be published. [64787/26]
William Aird Written 29 Sep 2026 · to Education
424. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the Solar for Schools Programme specifications to facilitate the installation of battery storage in schools, thereby allowing them to retain and use more of the electricity they generate. [68211/26]
Mairéad Farrell Written 17 Sep 2026 · to Climate
26. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he has engaged with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding developing guidelines for solar farms. [65912/26]
Richard Boyd Barrett Written 16 Sep 2026 · to Climate
104. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to his recent comments to provide an update on any proposals under consideration by his Department to roll out solar panels and insulation grants to low-income households. [64485/26]
Pa Daly Written 16 Sep 2026 · to Housing
753. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the commitment to introduce solar planning guidelines in the Programme for Government; the timeline for delivery; if they will be delivered by the end of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65753/26]
James O'Connor Written 25 Jun 2026 · to Housing
186. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for when solar planning guidelines will be published by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48228/26]
Ciarán Ahern Written 23 Jun 2026 · to Housing
423. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that the erection of solar panels on commercial buildings may render the surface area of those panels part of the rateable valuation of a commercial building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47063/26]
Barry Heneghan Written 16 Jun 2026 · to Climate
242. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to the publication of consultation responses on plug-in mini solar systems, whether he has noted that every objection raised by (details supplied) relates to the absence of regulation rather than the technology itself; when he will publish a regulatory framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45597/26]
Barry Heneghan Written 11 Jun 2026 · to Climate
53. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps his Department is taking, including engagement with relevant standards bodies and stakeholders, to facilitate any necessary amendments to the National Rules for Electrical Installations (I.S. 10101) that would permit the safe installation of plug-in solar systems in homes and apartments; and if he will make a statement on t…
Roderic O'Gorman Written 9 Jun 2026 · to Climate
327. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps his Department have taken to permit the sale and installation of plug-in photovoltaics (PIPV); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43020/26]
Roderic O'Gorman Written 9 Jun 2026 · to Climate
328. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department has engaged with the National Standards Authority of Ireland regarding bringing forward standards for plug-in photovoltaics (PIPV); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43021/26]
Roderic O'Gorman Written 9 Jun 2026 · to Climate
329. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department is aware of the call for harmonised EU rules for plug-in photovoltaics (PIPV); if his Department has taken a position on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43022/26]
Pat Buckley Written 26 May 2026 · to Housing
693. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason there are currently no guidelines for industrial solar complexes; and when these guidelines will be established and implemented [39436/26]
Michael Healy-Rae Written 19 May 2026 · to Housing
151. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to introduce planning guidelines for the development of solar farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37505/26]
Noel McCarthy Written 19 May 2026 · to Housing
246. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 5 March 2026, to provide an update on the progression of national planning guidelines for solar energy developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37559/26]
Eoghan Kenny Written 14 May 2026 · to Climate
174. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his attention has been drawn to innovations in the solar industry with the emergence of plug-in solar kits; and, if so, whether he or his Department has a view on whether there is a requirement to have any certification to meet any standards that may be required by Safe Electric; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [358…
Noel McCarthy Written 12 May 2026 · to Climate
254. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the measures being taken by his Department to encourage the use of plug-in solar nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34075/26]
Barry Heneghan Written 12 May 2026 · to Climate
260. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment when submissions received as part of the Department’s September to October 2024 consultation on the optional provisions under Directive (EU) 2024/1711, including those relating to plug in mini solar systems, are expected to be published; whether it is intended that such submissions will be published in full; and if he will make a st…
Barry Heneghan Written 12 May 2026 · to Climate
261. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of the potential impact of plug in mini solar systems on electricity bills, emissions reductions and grid demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34279/26]
Barry Heneghan Written 12 May 2026 · to Climate
262. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department has examined the rollout of balcony or plug in solar systems in other EU member states, including Germany; any findings or conclusions arising from such examination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34280/26]
Barry Heneghan Written 12 May 2026 · to Climate
272. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment when he expects to publish the responses received as part of the Department’s September to October 2024 consultation on plug in mini solar systems; whether his Department intends to publish a roadmap or framework for the potential introduction of plug in mini solar systems in Ireland; the engagement that has taken place with ESB Net…
Barry Heneghan Written 12 May 2026 · to Climate
273. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of the potential benefits of plug-in mini solar systems for households that may not be able to access traditional rooftop solar installations, including apartment residents, renters and persons living in social and affordable housing; whether consideration is being given to any pi…