Additional offshore bat surveys are behind an extension to the planning timetable for the proposed Dublin Array offshore wind farm off the Dublin and Wicklow coasts, developer RWE has confirmed to Afloat.ie.
The company has secured an extension until 31 January 2027 to respond to a further information request from An Coimisiún Pleanála, although it says it is working towards submitting its response towards the end of 2026.
The planning application, reference ABP-321992-24, was lodged on 28 February 2025. The planning authority issued its further information request on 8 December 2025, initially setting a response deadline of 17 September 2026.
Consideration of the application remains paused pending receipt of the additional information.
Responding to an Afloat.ie enquiry, RWE explained that seasonal monitoring requirements associated with additional assessments had prompted the request for more time.
“The seasonal monitoring relates to additional offshore bat surveys in response to An Coimisiún Pleanála’s Further Information Request,” RWE's Aoife Reynolds confirmed.
“The extension allows this monitoring to be completed and incorporated into the relevant assessments.”
RWE said work on its response was progressing and that it was aiming to submit the information towards the end of 2026.
The Dublin Array project proposes an offshore wind farm on the Kish and Bray Banks in the Irish Sea off the Dublin and Wicklow coasts. The project is being developed by RWE and Saorgus Energy, with a proposed operations and maintenance base at St Michael's Pier in Dún Laoghaire. The harbour proposals were examined in Afloat's recent report on cruise access and offshore wind plans.
More background is available in Afloat's Dublin Array coverage and its report on the planning application.
The revised deadline relates to the submission of further information and does not represent a date for a planning decision.
