• Another successful RESS auction provides major boost for renewables as Minister announces provisional results of the fifth auction
• RESS 5 secures enough clean power for over 350,000 homes
• Solar triumphs, strengthening its position as Ireland’s fastest growing renewable technology
• Successful auction will increase the security of our electricity supply and help stabilise energy prices
• Development of renewable electricity projects also creates sustainable jobs and future-proofs regional and local economies

 
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien today announced the provisional results of the fifth Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS 5) auction.
 
Following on from the success of the previous four auctions, RESS 5 provisionally secured 1500 GWh, which will power 357,000 homes. This will make a significant contribution to Ireland’s target of 80% of electricity demand to be met by renewable sources.
 
The outcome of the RESS 5 auction confirms solar PV’s pivotal role in Ireland’s clean energy transition, reinforcing its role as Ireland’s fastest growing renewable electricity source. Solar is highly complementary to wind generation, meaning this rapid growth of solar strengthens Ireland’s ability to generate clean electricity all year round, enhancing our security of supply and helping to stabilise electricity prices.
 
Today’s results mark a major milestone in delivering Irish energy independence and in providing long term security of clean renewable electricity for Irish households. Renewable electricity is Ireland’s energy insurance policy, which makes our transition to a renewables-led system a key priority. The more dependent a country is on imported fossil fuels, the greater its vulnerability to international energy markets. Higher deployment of domestic renewable electricity increases the stability of Ireland’s electricity prices and our economy.
 
Key aspects of the results:
 

• 1,500 GWh have been identified as provisionally successful. This is the maximum target volume for RESS 5 that was set ahead of the auction. This reflects the Government’s focus on energy affordability;
• This equates to over 1,000 MW of onshore renewable electricity (218.84 MW of wind and 860.38 MW of solar);
• The RESS 5 Weighted Average Price of €98.81/MWh reflect a small increase from €96.85/MWh in RESS 4, but this average price increase from last year’s auction is well below the general rate of inflation over the same period;
• As with previous RESS auctions, support is only provided to renewable generators when market prices are low. Generators are required to repay money to electricity customers when market prices are high. This two-way settlement arrangement provides significant consumer protection;
• All projects will be obligated to contribute to a Community Benefit Fund (CBF) at a minimum rate of €2/MWh. These projects will contribute about €45 million over the life of the RESS — €3 million per year — to those communities which host these vital renewable electricity projects.

 
Minister O’Brien said:
 
“I am very pleased to confirm the success of the RESS 5 auction, which has provisionally secured enough clean power for over 350,000 homes. With this volume of new clean electricity, we are not only reducing carbon emissions and dependence on imported fuels but also generating investment and jobs in communities across the country.
 
“These provisional RESS 5 results show that our policies are working and will help to maximise the volume of renewables connecting to the electricity grid at the lowest cost to the consumer. The auction results also reflect that solar is continuing to be the fastest growing renewable electricity source in the country and is rapidly transforming Ireland’s energy system. Developing our solar capacity, in tandem with onshore and offshore wind, will ensure we can generate clean electricity all year round.
 
“Accelerating and increasing the deployment of renewable electricity generation, especially onshore wind and solar, is fundamental to meeting our sectoral climate targets. July this year also marked a significant milestone for Ireland, as it was the first full month in which coal did not feature in our electricity fuel mix, after its use was discontinued at Moneypoint in June after 40 years.
 
“We are already world leaders for installed wind capacity per capita and for the integration of variable renewable electricity onto the grid. We will continue to advance our clean energy transition to secure a secure, sustainable and resilient energy future. The deployment and connection of wind and solar energy generation at pace and at scale to our electricity grid benefits households and business by shielding them from volatile fossil fuel imports using our indigenous natural energy resources.”
 
Volume procured and price secured:
 
The RESS 5 results compare well with other recent renewable energy auctions in Europe in terms of volume procured and auction prices, when adjustments for scheme specific designs are accounted for (indexation, contract length, and so on). At a time of significant inflationary and other cost pressures domestically and internationally, the RESS 5 auction has delivered very competitive outcomes, in terms of both price and the volume of renewables successful in the auction. The provisional results of the RESS 5 auction can be viewed here [https://cms.eirgrid.ie/sites/default/files/publications/RESS-5-Provisional-Auction-Results-R5PAR.pdf].
 
Revised National Planning Framework:
 
The Government is committed to accelerating deployment of onshore renewables. Regional renewable electricity capacity allocations for onshore wind and solar PV have been included in Ireland’s Revised National Planning Framework. The inclusion of the regional renewable electricity capacity allocation is a critical step towards achieving Ireland’s ambitious national renewable electricity targets.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien, today announced the establishment of an Offshore Wind Energy Clearing House.
 
The Offshore Wind Energy Clearing House builds on the momentum of the Government Industry Forum on Offshore Wind chaired by the Taosieach on 28 July.  The Clearing House will address identified impediments to the timely delivery of a vibrant offshore renewable energy sector.  It will support and reinforce the work of the existing Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce, especially where issues require an additional high-level intervention from the centre of Government.
 
The Clearing House will be chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach, and its membership will comprise of Secretaries General from relevant Government Departments as well as industry representatives. It will meet with the heads of relevant public sector organisations to ensure that Ireland can quickly harness its abundant offshore wind energy resource, for the benefit of the Irish people.  The Clearing House will have its first meeting in the coming weeks.
 
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:
 
"The Government is committed to reducing Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels and taking the necessary steps to ensure Ireland's long-term energy security, and unlocking opportunities for economic growth. Quickly developing a vibrant offshore wind sector is central to this objective.
 
"This task requires the collective skills and effort of the public and private sectors, working together, to make the most of this opportunity.
 
"Following on from successful discussions at the Government Industry Forum in July, we have established an Offshore Wind Energy Clearing House with the aim of tackling barriers to the timely delivery of offshore wind energy. This Clearing House will provide a forum where barriers to the development of offshore energy can be addressed by relevant Government Departments and public sector organisations together with industry representatives.”
 
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien said:
 
“The establishment of the Offshore Wind Energy Clearing House will be a welcome development within the Irish renewables sector and beyond. The Clearing House will support and supplement the ongoing work of the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce, which I chair.
 
“At a time of rising costs and global uncertainty, today’s announcement sends out an important political signal that Ireland is not stepping back from its renewables ambition. In a sector defined by very mobile international finance, investment will flow to the most de-risked markets. The Clearing House further strengthens our economic competitiveness and reaffirms Ireland as a stable and attractive location for continued investment in offshore renewable energy. In the coming weeks I will open our second ever auction for offshore wind, which will bring the 900-megawatt Tonn Nua site to market, the first site within the South Coast DMAP [Designated Maritimer Area Plan]."

The Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien TD, and the Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment with responsibility for Fisheries and the Marine, Timmy Dooley, TD, today announced the publication of the National Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) for Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Proposal and accompanying Public Participation Statement (PPS).
 
The National DMAP for Offshore Renewable Energy will be a strategic plan that outlines the development and management of offshore renewable energy resources off Ireland’s coast. It will provide a clear and sustainable framework for developing offshore renewable energy, balancing economic growth, environmental protection, and community engagement to support Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon future.
 
Ultimately, the National DMAP for ORE will designate renewable energy sites around Ireland’s coast that are suitable for offshore wind development, including fixed, floating, and floating demonstration locations. The plan is part of a Programme for Government commitment to accelerate offshore wind development, and will assist in realising the Government’s objective of securing 20GW (gigawatts) of offshore wind by 2040. It builds on the South Coast DMAP for ORE, approved by the Oireachtas in October 2024. The first of four sites within the South Coast DMAP — ‘Tonn Nua’ — will go to auction in November to procure 900MW of capacity.
 
The proposed National DMAP and Public Participation Statement accelerate Ireland’s offshore renewable energy ambition via a plan-led framework guiding Ireland’s offshore renewable energy development.  The documents set out information on the scope of the overall plan, timeframes and the required steps in the development of the DMAP over the next two years, as well as the Government’s commitment to extensive and inclusive consultation with the public and stakeholders throughout the entire process.
 
Commenting on the publication, Minister O’Brien said:
 
“The National Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy supports our decarbonisation efforts and our offshore renewables ambition of 20GW by 2040. Having a single National DMAP for ORE in place to follow on from the Phase One projects and the South Coast DMAP for ORE published last year will provide greater certainty for our marine stakeholders and the renewables industry.
 
“This Proposal, along with the Public Participation Statement, sets out what we will do, and how we will ensure your voice is heard. The PPS will provide information for environmental and fisheries sectors as to how they, and indeed all stakeholders, can take part in the process. We therefore strongly encourage all interested parties to engage in the future public participation and consultation opportunities over the development of this plan.”
 
Minister Dooley said:
 
“For Ireland, human-generated climate change presents a significant and expensive challenge to which our communities must adapt. In addition, the continuing unpredictability of geopolitical events has made our dependency on fossil fuels unreliable and unaffordable. These combined pressures reinforce the need for Ireland to accelerate its transition to indigenous and transformative renewable energy sources.
 
“To further address this challenge, Government has committed to the preparation of a National Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy. The DMAP process will ensure that developments in Ireland’s maritime area take place in a managed and sustainable way.”
 
Extensive public and stakeholder consultation on the National DMAP Proposal will take place over the course of 2026 and 2027. It is anticipated that the National DMAP will be completed in 2027 and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas for approval.
 
The National Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy Proposal can be found here (https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/dbbc1ac7/National_DMAP_for_ORE_Proposal_.pdf), while the Public Participation Statement for the National Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy is available here (https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/c72c040c/National_DMAP_for_ORE-PPS__v3.pdf).

Focus of the Plan is investment in measures supporting those most vulnerable to energy and transport poverty
 
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien, today launched a public consultation on the development of Ireland’s Social Climate Plan.
 
Over the lifetime of the Plan (2026-2032), Ireland can recoup up to 75% of the cost of eligible measures within the Plan (to a maximum of €663 million) from the EU Social Climate Fund. The focus of the Plan is investment in long-lasting, socially-fair measures aimed at supporting those who may be most vulnerable to energy and transport poverty arising from our transition towards clean mobility and a decarbonised built environment.
 
In the development and implementation of this Plan, the Government is committed to developing robust and high-quality measures, guided by meaningful stakeholder input, to ensure that the funds are appropriately targeted to those most at risk from energy and transport poverty, such as vulnerable households, transport users and micro-enterprises. This first, of two consultations, is designed to capture information on what the public and stakeholders see as the priorities for investment under this Plan. 
 
The English language version of this consultation will run for a period of six weeks until Thursday 23 October and is available at the following link: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/SCP-Ireland-2025.  
 
Tá leagan amach as Gaeilge den chomhairliúchán seo le fáil ar feadh sé seachtaine go dtí deireadh an lae 23ú Deireadh Fómhair: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/SCP-Ireland-2025?surveylanguage=GA.  
 
The second consultation, being planned for November, will be a public event, with European Commission officials present.
 
Commenting on the consultation, Minister O’Brien said:
 
“Over the longer-term, we will have a much more sustainable, secure and efficient transport and heating system, but in the here and now, I recognise that the transition can be difficult for people and that it impacts people unevenly. We have a fantastic opportunity now, with the support of this significant EU co-financing, to develop measures that will have a lasting impact on the wellbeing and comfort of those most vulnerable to energy and transport poverty while also having decarbonisation co-benefits.
 
While this is an open consultation, I particularly encourage all those impacted by energy and transport poverty, and the groups that represent them, to participate in this consultation.”

Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien has published the third annual Progress Report on the implementation of the National Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP) Action Plan 2022-2025, alongside a report of the National Sustainable Mobility Forum, which took place in May.
The Progress Report summarises the substantial progress made since the SMP was launched in 2022. It highlights the achievement of significant milestones in the third year of the Policy’s implementation, including:

• 41.3% of the Public Service Obligation (PSO) bus fleets in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford are now low- and zero-emission vehicles, surpassing the target of 40% - with Limerick becoming the first city in Ireland to have a fully electric fleet. 
• The number of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) in the Small Public Service Vehicle (SPSV) fleet has increased by 25.5%, above the target of 25%. 
• The Independent Travel Support scheme, which assists passengers with additional needs to develop skills to use public transport independently, has now been expanded to Galway, Limerick, Cork, and Waterford, building on its success in Dublin.
• Public transport passenger numbers reached an all-time high in 2024, reinforced by the October 2024 announcement that daily journeys across PSO services had reached a record level, surpassing one million trips per day.
• TFI Local Link services also continued to show year on year growth, with 4.7 million journeys completed in 2024—an increase of almost 47% compared with the previous year. This very significant increase was supported by the 45 new and enhanced services introduced under the SMP’s Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan.
• An expansion of the TfI regional bike scheme in Limerick and Cork ensured continued growth in public bike trips, with a year-on-year increase of 23% across the four regional cities in 2024, and a 51% increase in the first five months of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. 
• More than 1,000 km of Active Travel and Greenway infrastructure was delivered between 2020 and 2025, with the targets for regional cities and non-metro areas hugely surpassed. 
• 507 bus shelters have been installed for regional and rural services since 2022 — more than double the original target of 200.

The Progress Report shows that close to 70% of the actions set out in the Action Plan will be delivered by end-2025, with significant progress also made on the remaining actions. A detailed progress update on each of the 91 actions is provided in Annex 1.
Speaking about the publication of the Progress Report, Minister O’Brien said:
“I’m delighted to publish the third annual progress report on the National Sustainable Mobility Policy. This report highlights the achievements that have been delivered to create a cleaner, more connected and more inclusive transport system for Ireland. Over the past year, we’ve seen electric buses enter service across the country, huge strides in the delivery of major walking and cycling infrastructure projects, record-breaking public transport passenger numbers and a continued and concerted effort to deliver meaningful progress across all actions in the SMP Action Plan.
“Delivery isn’t easy, even when our collective ambition is high, but I want to reiterate that this Government’s commitment to sustainable mobility is stronger than ever. Through the National Development Plan, we’ve allocated €24.33 billion to the sector up to 2030, including a ringfenced €2 billion to commence MetroLink, the most ambitious and transformational transport project ever seen in this country.
“Looking ahead, we will build on this momentum with a new SMP Action Plan for 2026–2030. This next phase will realise the Programme for Government’s vision for sustainable mobility, helping us to deliver a green, safe, affordable and reliable transport network that serves every corner of our country, and leaves no one behind. It’s a challenge we’re ready to meet, and one that will benefit generations to come.”
Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Séan Canney, said:
“We’ve made significant strides in public transport accessibility, for urban and rural communities alike, and for those with additional needs. This year, we’ve seen the rollout of the new Portlaoise Town service and the enhanced Sligo Town service, with services in the planning stages for Mullingar and Ennis.
“The Independent Travel Support service, now extended to all regional cities including Galway, offers practical support to help individuals with additional needs to travel independently. It’s a simple but powerful initiative that opens up opportunities and builds confidence.
“With public transport usage reaching record levels in 2024, our focus remains on expanding services while ensuring they are inclusive and responsive to the needs of all passengers."
The development of the next Action Plan is well underway.  Stakeholder engagement on this process commenced with four National Sustainable Mobility Forum events in May of this year. Alongside the SMP Progress Report, the Minister has also published the Facilitator’s Report from this Forum, which summarises the contributions made by participants across all four events.