Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 June 2022
72. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 10 of 6 April 2022, the status of the preparation of the finalised terms of reference for the offshore renewable energy scheme one; the status of his Department’s response to the public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28509/22]
View answerMy Department continues to develop the terms and conditions for ORESS 1, the first offshore wind auction under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme. As noted in Question No. 10 of 6 April 2022, the ORESS 1 auction is scheduled to commence in Q4 2022, subject to the availability of a sufficient quantity of eligible projects for a competitive auction. A key auction eligibility criterion will be for offshore wind projects to hold a Maritime Area Consent (MAC). MACs were established under the Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Act 2021 and the MAC application window opened on 25 April 2022. Award of MACs is expected in Q3 this year.
A public consultation on the draft terms and conditions for ORESS 1 was held between October 2021 and December 2021 and over 150 responses were received. My Department plans to issue a formal response to consultation feedback in the coming days, with final terms and conditions to be submitted for Government approval later this summer.
