The issuance of guidelines to planning authorities in respect of their functions under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage under section 28 of that Act. However, Regional Assemblies, local authorities and Government Departments all have a role to play in ensuring that the proper planning and sustainable development of renewable electricity generation, including solar photovoltaics, is provided for in development plans.
The National Planning Framework (NPF), published by the Government under Chapter IIA of Part II of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides the national framework for strategic planning and sustainable development and includes a national policy objective to 'promote renewable energy use and generation at appropriate locations within the built and natural environment to meet national objectives towards achieving a low carbon economy by 2050'.
Under Chapter III of Part II of the Planning and Development Act 2000 the three Regional Assemblies have made Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSESs) to support the implementation of the NPF and economic policies and objectives of the Government.
To assist local authorities in the preparation of plans for renewable energy, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has published the Methodology for the Local Authority Renewable Energy Strategies (LARES). The methodology outlines a best practice approach to identifying and assessing renewable energy resources and potential and developing renewable energy policies and, where appropriate, incorporating a LARES into a county development plan.
In light of the development of renewable energy technology, including the reduction in the cost of solar photovoltaics, and the national climate ambition outlined in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021, the SEAI intend to review the Methodology for LARES later this year with a view to re-issuing an updated methodology. This revised methodology and the implementation of the regional policy objectives of the Regional Assemblies will facilitate and assist local authorities to provide for the proper planning and sustainable development of renewable electricity generation, including where appropriate for solar photovoltaics, through their development plans.
