Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 October 2022
61. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the level of engagement that his Department has had with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the context of reviewing planning laws pertaining to renewable energy developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52270/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials engage on an ongoing basis with officials in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on all aspects of the planning system as it relates to the transition to renewable energy, at both a policy level, and on various legislative provisions.
A recent example of positive collaboration in this respect being the new regulations made by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage that significantly expand the planning exemptions for the installation of solar panels on the rooftops of houses and certain non-domestic buildings. These exemptions are aimed at increasing Ireland’s generation of solar energy and combating climate change. It supports a target of installing up to 380MW of microgeneration capacity as part of Ireland’s overall solar targets under the Climate Action Plan.
My Department also participates in the inter-departmental working group run by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in respect of the review of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) and that Department participates in a cross-Government / agency working group run by my officials in respect of the transposition of the relevant aspects of the Renewable Energy Directive into Irish law. The National Energy Security Framework also contains a commitment for both Departments to work together to ensure that the planning system fully supports the transition to renewable energy in the interests of energy security, as expressed in Response 25 of same.
Our Departments will continue to engage collaboratively on these issues in order to enable Ireland to achieve a 51% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and setting us on a path to reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050, as committed to in the Programme for Government and set out in the Climate Act 2021.
