Greater detail and certainty on the location of offshore renewable energy (ORE) off the Irish coast and greater alignment with relevant policies and plans were among key issues raised during public consultation on the State’s draft second ORE development plan.
“Significant feedback was also received on technical criteria, environmental considerations and the sharing of the maritime space,” the Department of Environment has said.
The findings are included in an independent report summarising public consultation feedback on the second plan, known as OREDP II.
Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan TD, has welcomed publication of the report, which summarised feedback from pubic consultation over an eight-week period from February to April 2023.
The draft OREDP II proposed a national-level spatial strategy to guide locations for the future development of offshore renewable energy, and both Ryan and the Tánaiste Micheál Martin participated in workshops to support the consultation.
Over 1,100 people took part in the nationwide consultation, including members of the public and key stakeholder groups.
The engagement included six in-person workshops, ten informal outreach visits to coastal communities, five online information events, and one exhibit at a trade fair for fisheries.
“The feedback noted that there are many potential benefits and opportunities for Ireland in developing offshore renewable energy in terms of delivering on the Climate Action Plan, economic development and ensuring security of supply,”the department says.
“Participants requested greater detail and certainty on the location of offshore renewable energy as part of the post-consultation version of the OREDP II, and greater alignment with relevant policies and plans (both marine and terrestrial),”it said.
“Significant feedback was also received on technical criteria, environmental considerations and the sharing of the maritime space,”it said.
“I have carefully considered all of the feedback, and my department, along with other Government departments, will continue to work closely with local communities to ensure that any developments of our offshore wind resources are managed in a planned, strategic, economical and sustainable way,” Ryan said.
The OREDP II, public consultation report, is available to view at gov.ie/OffshoreEnergyPlan