SIGNIFICANT progress has been made in implementing the recommendations from the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce.
That’s according to a recently released progress report on the last six months of work by the taskforce.
Launched in July, the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce report set out a vision for the estuary to be the centre of Ireland’s new “green energy powerhouse” with the possibility of creating 50,000 jobs by 2050.
The newly published progress report has been welcomed by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment Simon Coveney.
Areas such as the establishment of the Marine Area Regulatory Authority, an industrial strategy for offshore wind, the publication of a national hydrogen strategy, as well as the accelerated delivery of the Adare bypass have all seen progress since the final report of the taskforce was launched six months ago.
The Marine Area Regulatory Authority was legally established in July 2023, with operations starting the same year.
An industrial strategy for offshore wind is expected to be published early in 2024, according to the progress report, with the publication of the hydrogen strategy also taking place in quarter three of 2023.
The progress update also outlines recommendations that will be ongoing, which are subject to consideration across the Government.
Speaking about the progress report, Minister Coveney said that “important strides” have been made over the last six months, but that the journey is only beginning.
“The vision of a new industrial revolution powered by an abundant supply of renewable energy offering transformative opportunities for balanced regional economic growth is wholly consistent with the Government’s White Paper on Enterprise,” the Minister said.
Minister Coveney continued: “Government has made important strides in turning this vision into a reality over the past six months, but the journey is just beginning”.
The taskforce chairman, Barry O’Sullivan, welcomed the first update, saying: “The taskforce’s major area of focus was in respect of the deployment at scale of offshore wind off the Shannon Estuary which can serve regional, national, and European energy needs.”
“This can be transformative for the economic and social fabric of the region. To deliver on this ambition … while it is encouraging to see progress at the national policy level, the taskforce strongly recommends that a greater level of ambition and speed is required right across Government in relation to offshore wind.”
