Call to fast track Arklow offshore wind farm after years of planning deadlock
The Wicklow PeopleWicklow Wexford TD Brian Brennan has said the State is leaving itself exposed to another winter of fuel price volatility unless it moves faster to build domestic renewable energy, warning that the stalled offshore wind project off Arklow has become a symbol of the problem.
Speaking during a debate in the Dáil, he said Ireland is now in “a completely different situation” to July, with fuel costs rising again and no sign of stability in the Middle East.
He welcomed the extension of fuel tax supports, but said they must remain under review with no fixed end date, arguing that the geopolitical outlook is too uncertain for the government to commit to a cut-off point.
Deputy Brennan said hauliers, bus operators, taxi drivers and farmers across his constituency are increasingly anxious about fuel costs. He referenced meetings with Breen Transport in Ferns, Co Wexford and operators in Gorey, Co Wexford and Arklow, Co Wicklow, along with commuters who rely on cars for daily travel.
He said the agricultural sector in particular is worried about the impact of another winter of high diesel prices.
He also urged the government to address home heating oil in the budget, saying pensioners are “genuinely scared” of what lies ahead.
He said older people who have contributed to their communities for decades “deserve to be heard” and should not be left facing unaffordable heating bills.
Deputy Brennan used the debate to pivot to energy security, saying Ireland must reduce its exposure to global fossil fuel shocks by accelerating renewable energy deployment.
He said solar panels should be installed on every home, school, industrial premises and farm shed in the country, arguing that Ireland is still not generating meaningful domestic energy despite years of policy commitments.
He said that “not one bulb will be lit using energy from the Irish Sea tonight”, pointing to the 53 turbine offshore wind project planned off the Arklow coast that remains tied up in the planning system.
He said the application “must be expedited” and warned that delays in the planning process are undermining Ireland’s ability to take control of its own energy supply.
He said the country is “too dependent on imported fossil fuels” and that the government must treat energy independence as a core economic and social priority.
He added that the combination of rising fuel costs, winter heating pressures and stalled renewable projects shows why Ireland needs a more urgent approach to planning and delivery.