Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
440. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce final report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27458/23]
View answerThe Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce final report is due to be published on the 8th of July 2023.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government 2020 committed to supporting the Shannon Estuary region in recognition that it had been expecting economic development arising from new fossil-fuel infrastructure. The establishment of an independent Economic Taskforce was designed to evaluate the region’s economic development potential and was formally established on 21 April 2022, with the twofold objective to create a long-term vision for the region and to outline a practical action plan to realise it.
I very much look forward to the publication of this report which is the product of extensive stakeholder consultations by the Taskforce across the renewable energy, transport, logistics, communications, and tourism sectors. The Taskforce also engaged with the relevant Government Departments, Agencies, Ministers, members of the Oireachtas, MEPs, and local elected officials across counties Kerry, Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary. In addition to this, my Department ran two public consultations on behalf of the Taskforce.
The Taskforce published its interim report in November 2022 in which it set out its ambition to begin supplying Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy through the Estuary by 2030, with the intention to significantly accelerating it up to 2050. It is anticipated that the final report of the independent Taskforce will contain detailed recommendations on what is required in terms of policy, regulatory reform, and infrastructure development to enable this vision to be realised.
The Taskforce report is also expected to set out a series of recommendations designed to bring more immediate economic and sustainability benefits to the region. It will outline actions required to develop and upscale the deployment of onshore sources of renewable energy such as biomethane. Specific recommendations on developing the region’s transport and logistics infrastructure, digital connectivity, as well as proposals around further developing the Estuary’s tourism offering are also expected to be included.
