Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
165. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps he is taking to remove bureaucracy and red tape for the progress of infrastructural developments, such as wind and solar energy projects, designed to assist in meeting climate targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73218/25]
View answerMy Department chairs the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce (OWDT) and the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce (ARET) which bring together the key stakeholders, including the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the regulators, CRU and MARA, to ensure a cohesive approach to policymaking, designed to reduce the barriers facing renewable electricity generation projects. The 2025/26 Key Actions for the OWDT and ARET were published in June and July.
Under the aegis of the ARET, a number of dedicated working groups operate to ensure that permitting processes and spatial planning for renewables meet the requirements of relevant EU Regulations/Directives including the Renewable Energy Directive as well as ensuring that the statutory planning policy hierarchy supports the delivery of the national renewable electricity targets for onshore wind and solar PV. The Minister for Housing, Local Government, and Heritage has responsibility for planning matters.
In September, the Offshore Wind Energy Clearing House was established to build on the work of the OWDT and directly address identified barriers to the delivery of our offshore renewable energy sector.
In addition, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform, and Digitalisation established the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce in May this year, to support the unblocking of barriers and accelerating infrastructure delivery. On 3 December, Government published the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan to help drive the efficient delivery of infrastructure across Ireland, which includes 30 actions designed to remove barriers. This report will support the work of the ARET and the Offshore Wind Clearing House and the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment will furthermore support its delivery.
