THE OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE on Climate, Environment and Energy has published a report on challenges to the delivery of offshore renewable energy (ORE).

It reports that the prospect of Ireland meeting its 2030 offshore renewable energy target is “extremely unlikely”, with projects expected to still be under construction as the deadline passes.

The report examined what it described as a “myriad” of legal, organisational and technical barriers slowing progress on offshore renewable energy projects. 

Among the examples highlighted was the North Irish Sea Array project off the coasts of Dublin, Meath and Louth, where developers submitted a 10,000-page application in June 2024, but did not receive a request for further information until April 2025.

The report said such delays were damaging confidence in Ireland as a destination for offshore wind investment.

Committee members said the resourcing of agencies such as An Coimisiún Pleanála, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), MARA and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) was critical to the delivery of planning decisions that do not delay offshore wind energy projects.

The committee further recommended increasing the number of judges, saying it would result in a further reduction of timelines.

Committee cathaoirleach Naoise Ó Múirí said “It is vital that the barriers that continue to stand in the way of achieving sovereign control over our energy security and resilience are broken down”.

“With some of Europe’s strongest offshore wind resources, Ireland has the potential to meet up to 80% of electricity demand from renewables in the near term,” he said. “At a time of growing global volatility, we must be prepared to adapt.”