Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
144. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update on his Department’s involvement in the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce and the development of an associated policy framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73217/25]
View answerMy Department chairs the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce (“ARE Taskforce”) which brings together officials from relevant Government Departments and agencies to identify the barriers to renewable growth and develop solutions to remove or minimise those barriers.
Under the aegis of the ARE Taskforce, work is underway on developing a supporting policy framework for Ireland’s electricity supply, one that will deliver a regional balance and distribution of renewable technologies, including solar PV and onshore wind, and enable Ireland’s electricity supply to keep pace with economic growth, protecting Irish homes and businesses from volatile fossil fuel prices through the deployment of indigenous wind and solar energy across our regions.
As part of this approach, Regional Renewable Electricity Capacity Allocations for solar and onshore wind were included in the First Revision of the National Planning Framework, published in April 2025. Further to the publication of the revised NPF, each Regional Assembly will be required to commence a revision of their Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES). As part of this RSES revision, each Regional Assembly will need to adopt a Regional Renewable Energy Strategy.
Officials from my Department are actively working with the three Regional Assemblies to support them in the integration of the capacity allocations as part of the development of these Regional Renewable Energy Strategies, which will translate the regional allocations into local authority-level targets and will inform City and County Development Plans, ensuring alignment between local plans and national policy.
