Planning Issues
Seanad Éireann — 2026-09-23
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Christopher O'Sullivan (FF), Cork South-West

I thank the Senator for raising this issue. He mentioned the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, whose remit is obviously very relevant to renewable energy. However, the national planning statements will be done by the Department of housing under the Minister, Deputy James Browne. Another point to make is that I cannot give an exact timeline for when the national planning statement on solar will be finalised. In that context, there are approximately 28 national planning statements that we are preparing at the moment. We have just done one on rural housing, as the Senator will be aware. There is quite a body of work to get through. I give that context at the start.
I highlight that the Programme for Government 2025: Securing Ireland's Future reaffirms Ireland's commitment to the ambitious target of having 8 GW of solar capacity connected to the grid by 2030 to assist with meeting the requirement that 80% of electricity demand be supplied by renewables. Solar energy is a growing source of electricity, with installed solar capacity passing the 3 GW milestone for the first time in August of this year. However, further solar capacity is required.
As many Senators will be aware, my Department is working with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, which holds policy responsibility for renewable energy matters in respect of the introduction of a number of planning statements related to Ireland's climate action plan target, to increase the share of electricity generated from renewable sources to 80% by 2030. This includes the preparation of a national planning statement for solar energy development.
Further to the commencement of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 on 2 December 2025, provisions for national planning statements have been introduced to replace the provisions for ministerial guidelines issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. All existing section 28 guidelines will, over time, be revoked and replaced with new national planning statements. Any current section 28 guidelines will, however, remain in force until revoked or replaced by a corresponding national planning statement.
In respect of sectoral national planning statements in particular, there is also an important role for the relevant policy Department in collaborating with my Department on the development of these national planning statements. In that context, my Department is working closely with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment as the Department with policy responsibility for renewable energy in order to identify the component factors relevant to the preparation of a national planning statement for solar energy, including any appropriate environmental reporting and public consultation requirements, European obligations such as the renewable energy directive, battery storage facilities and the possible timeframe for the publication of the national planning statement.
In line with EU directive requirements, a strategic environmental assessment will be carried out on any national planning statement regarding solar energy development, with opportunity for consultation by the public and all stakeholders on the draft national planning statement. Until the national planning statement for solar energy is finalised, it remains the case that no specific planning guidelines are currently in place that deal with solar energy development, as is the case for most types of development. I am satisfied, however, that in the interim, the existing and evolving planning system, supported by Government policy more generally, provides a sufficiently robust policy and legislative framework to facilitate the roll-out of solar energy development in a sustainable manner and to assist with meeting our renewable electricity requirements while balancing the perspectives of local communities and allowing for public and stakeholder engagement. In making a decision on a planning application for a solar energy development, a planning authority must consider the specific merits or otherwise of the application in line with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-09-23/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:49+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-23