Offshore windfarms to be fasttracked under new plans Tusla still providing child protection services and more
PROPOSALS for wind farms off the coast of Wicklow are to be fast-tracked under new Government plans to ramp up the production of renewable energy.
The two phases of the Codling offshore wind farm project and Innology Renewables’ planned ‘Dublin Array’ windfarm at the Bray and Kish banks have been named as ‘relevant projects’. This means they will be able to apply under new marine planning rules.
Hundreds of wind turbines are proposed for the Codling offshore project in the Irish Sea which is 13km off the coast between Greystones and Wicklow Town. It is spread across two sites, one of which is already consented.
Innology Renewables applied for a foreshore licence to conduct site investigations for a proposed windfarm on the Bray and Kish banks on a site that extends from Booterstown to Greystones.
The Climate Action Plan commits to an increase in Ireland’s offshore wind capacity to 3.5GW as part of the goal of reaching 70 per cent renewable energy by 2030.
New laws to update the marine planning rules for offshore renewable energy projects are being prepared. The designated ‘relevant projects’ will be allowed to continue with site surveys and prepare environmental assessments. No construction work on these offshore projects can start unless planning permission is obtained from An Bord Pleanala.
Meanwhile, the developer of the Arkow Bank wind farm said it hadn’t applied to have the proposal listed as a ‘relevant project’. SSE Renewables said it was not expecting to make ‘material planning amendments’ to its existing consent for the proposed 520MW wind farm off the coast of south Wicklow.
A spokesperson for SSE Renewables said the company ‘intend to continue to proceed with our development plans for our exciting project under the existing Foreshore legislation, and we will continue to work with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in this regard.’
The company has indicated it would invest around €2 billion in the Arklow project.
IN recent weeks, Tusla staff in Wicklow have continued to provide essential frontline services that cannot be delivered remotely.
These include child protection, children in care and domestic, sexual and gender based violence services, in conjunction with other parties and funded agencies.
Audrey Warren, Area Manager for Dublin South West/Kildare/West Wicklow, Tusla said: ‘As an agency that works with children and families across Wicklow, our staff have been working tirelessly to ensure the continuity of supports and services, while also balancing the needs and best interests of the child with public health advice to keep children, families and frontline staff as safe as possible during the pandemic.
‘In Wicklow, Tusla has been working with local partners including our own Family Support Services, Barnardos, Wicklow Child and Family Project, Daughters of Charity, the Local Community Forums and through Children’s and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC) to ensure that we are supporting some of the most vulnerable in our society at a time when they need it most.
‘Our social work teams are working exceptionally hard to ensure that all concerns and referrals received about the safety or welfare of a child are screened and assessed in line with Children First, and responded to in line with normal practice.’
The Wicklow School Refusal Pack has been launched electronically this month, designed to provide schools, students and parents/guardians with a guide to the best way to manage school refusal and highlighting the relevant resources and services that may be of assistance.
Wicklow CYPSC is a member of the Community Response Forum and is ensuring that the emerging needs for children, young people and their families are being raised. Two issues currently receiving attention include digital poverty and food poverty.
Anyone with a concern about a child’s safety or welfare should contact their local duty social work office.
In West Wicklow, the number is (045) 8393000, while for the east of the county it is (01) 9213400.