143. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authorities that have a dedicated “Local Authority Renewable Strategy or Wind Energy Strategy” as part of their County Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47582/26]

The local authority Development Plan is the principal planning strategy document which sets out the relevant policies and objectives to guide the physical development of each city and county over a six-year period. All existing development plans were prepared and adopted in accordance with the requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Section 10 of that Act required that every development plan include objectives for the provision or facilitation of infrastructure including energy infrastructure, which encompasses wind energy.

The implementation of this requirement at local level is a matter for individual planning authorities and is subject to oversight by the Office of the Planning Regulator. Individual development plans may be viewed on the websites of each planning authority.

The Planning and Development Act 2024 and the Revised NPF (2025) provide the legislative and policy basis for the review and updating of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies and local authority development plans.

Section 49 of the Act of 2024 obliges Local Authorities to prepare a strategy relating to environment and climate change while National Policy Objective 70 of the Revised NPF seeks to promote renewable energy use and generation at appropriate locations within the built and natural environment to meet national objectives towards achieving a climate neutral economy by 2050.

National Policy Objective 74 provides that each Regional Assembly must plan, through their Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES), for the delivery of the regional renewable electricity capacity allocations indicated for onshore wind and solar, and identify allocations for each of the local authorities, based on the best available scientific evidence and in accordance with legislative requirements, in order to meet the overall national target. The preparation of the three RSESs under the Act of 2024 commenced in March of this year.

National Policy Objective 75 provides that local authorities shall plan for the delivery of Target Power Capacity (MW) allocations consistent with the relevant Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy, through their City and County Development Plans.