Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
435. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has ever considered changes to planning laws to make the provision of solar canopies mandatory when planning permission is being granted for large outdoor carparks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47159/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government – Securing Ireland’s Future has reaffirmed Ireland’s targets of 80% of electricity demand to be met by renewables in the near term, with plans to move to net zero by 2050. The deployment of renewable electricity, including solar energy, is vital for Ireland to meet its ambitious domestic targets and international commitments. Solar energy is a growing source of electricity with circa 2.1 GW of solar power capacity currently installed in Ireland, however there is no doubt that further solar capacity is required and the Programme for Government reaffirms Ireland’s ambitious targets of 8 GW of solar capacity connected to the grid by 2030.
From a planning perspective, for which my Department is responsible, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce new planning guidelines for solar energy development which will also consider the issue of battery storage.
In respect of sectoral national planning statements there is also an important role for the parent policy Department, in collaboration with my Department, on the development of an NPS. In that context, my Department will be working closely with my Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, who hold overall responsibility for renewable energy policy in order to identify the component factors relevant to the preparation of this National Planning Statement, including any appropriate environmental reporting and public consultation requirements, European obligations such as the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), battery storage facilities and the possible timeframe for publication of the National Planning Statement. My Department, in conjunction with DCEE, will have to establish if solar canopy development will be included within the scope of a Solar Energy NPS.
More generally, large areas of surface parking would not be encouraged in urban areas. As noted in the Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlement Guidelines for Planning Authorities, “the Settlement Guidelines”, issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) the quantum of car parking in new developments should be minimised in order to manage travel demand and to ensure that vehicular movement does not impede active modes of travel or have undue prominence within the public realm. The provision of car parking can also add significant cost to the development by consuming additional land.
There are no specific planning guidelines that deal with solar energy development or, more specifically, solar canopies, as is currently the case with many development types. My Department is satisfied that the existing and evolving planning system, supported by Government policy more generally, provides a sufficiently robust policy and legislative framework to facilitate the rollout of solar energy development in a sustainable manner and to assist with meeting our renewable electricity requirements while balancing the perspectives of local communities and allowing for public and stakeholder engagement.
