Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 April 2022
85. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider establishing a taskforce to identify innovation, investment and employment opportunities relating to offshore windfarms. [18473/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that a cross-departmental Offshore Renewable Energy Delivery Taskforce, chaired by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, is being established to capture wider economic and business opportunities associated with the development of Offshore Renewable Energy in Ireland.
This will include the identification of supporting infrastructure development and supply chain opportunities as Ireland’s offshore wind industry is progressed. The Taskforce will develop a cohesive national strategy to build out the industry to decarbonise our energy system and move us towards a green hydrogen economy. It will accelerate and drive key actions in the plan and develop a system wide project plan to meet the overall objective for Offshore Renewable Energy.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment will actively participate in this group and ensure that the innovation, investment, and employment opportunities of the Offshore renewable energy sector are capitalised on.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is already actively engaging with the renewable energy sector, both directly and through our agencies, to develop the sector in Ireland.
Enterprise Ireland continues to identify and work with those Irish companies with the capability to support the offshore wind industry’s growth through the Offshore Wind Industry Cluster. They will hold the Enterprise Ireland Offshore Wind Showcase Event this summer, convening delegates from across the Irish and UK offshore wind industry. For its part, the IDA is involved in facilitating and promoting links between large energy users, including data centres, and the renewable energy sector to help them align with and contribute towards emissions targets and future network needs.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and agencies recognise the significant job opportunities associated with the offshore renewable energy sector. The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), the Secretariat for which is based in my department, undertook a study on the nature and quantity of skills required between now and 2030 to deliver on some of the key enabling measures in the Climate Action Plan.
The analysis found that demand for labour associated with offshore wind development is forecast to increase from a 2020 baseline of c.2,500 FTE to c.4,000 mid-decade, and to stand at c.3,500 in 2030. . My own department will work with the Department of Further and Higher Education and its agencies to follow through on these initiatives and secure the required workforce for the renewable energy sector.
