Solar panel planning exemptions
Steven Matthews complained that promised planning regulations for solar panels were overdue despite the energy crisis. The Taoiseach said he would follow it up with the relevant Minister and get an answer quickly.
On 15 February, the Taoiseach indicated to the House that the planning regulations for solar panels would be ready in two to three weeks. That is nearly six weeks ago now and I have seen no movement on it. I do not need to remind the Taoiseach that we are in an energy crisis, that we have introduced one of the most ambitious energy retrofit schemes seen anywhere in Europe and that we have agreed the feed-in tariff scheme. What we need now are the planning exemptions on solar panels. We have potentially up to 2 GW of solar in this country on farm buildings, community buildings, schools, houses and apartments - everywhere. There is massive potential. People want to fit them on their roofs and we can create thousands of jobs. I need to ask the Taoiseach again: where are the regulations? We need them urgently.
