Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment
FOI Requests — 1,589 records
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Note: Not all FOI requests have a specified time period, and therefore not all requests appear in this chart.
- Received 5 June 2026Decided 2 July 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
1. A schedule/list/index of consultant deliverables and reports produced by the noise consultants appointed in or around May 2023 in relation to the review of wind turbine noise guidance for the development of updated Wind Energy Guidelines. Please supply any partially except or redacted files or information.
- Received 9 June 2026Decided 26 June 2026Part-GrantedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
Boliden Tara Mines DAC State Mining Leases (144, 146 & 147) and State Mining Licences (2, 3, 4, 5 & 12) and associated environmental reports.
- Received 22 June 2026Decided 25 June 2026WithdrawnDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
I request copies of all climate adaptation risk assessments, urban heat island impact reports, and/or emergency cooling strategy documents generated within the last 12 months. Specifically, I request records detailing the vulnerability of public transport networks, public water supplies, and/or low- income social housing units to sustained temperatures exceeding 25°C, including projected costs for retrofits to prevent structural overheating.
- Received 17 June 2026Decided 25 June 2026Part-GrantedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
1. In the context of the making of the regulations in S.I. No. 200/2026 - Planning and Development (Costs of Part 9 Judicial Review Proceedings) Regulations 2026 a) All information presented and/or considered and taken into account as part of the ministerial consultations required by the Minister for Climate, Energy and the 3 Environment (CEE) under s.294(2) of the 2024 Act in making such regulations; and any and all information of the Minister for CEE’s consequential rationale and decision; b) All information presented and/or considered and taken into account as part of the ministerial consent required under s.294(2) of the 2024 Act in making such regulations; and any and all information on the associated consent and rationale; c) All information presented and/or considered and taken into account as part of the specified matters the Minister for CEE is required to have regard to under s.294(3) of the 2024 Act, and any records of the Minister for CEE’s consequential rationale and decision; d) Any and all other information which the Minister considered in making such regulations. 2. In respect of the commencements of the elements of the Planning and Development Act 2024 made under SI No 194/2026, all the information presented and/or considered by the Minister for CEE in ordering such commencements.
- Received 18 May 2026Decided 25 June 2026Part-GrantedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
On 12 May 2026, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Mr. Darragh O’ Brien (“the Minister”) signed SI 200 of 2026, Planning and Development (Costs of Part 9 Judicial Review Proceedings) Regulations 2026 (“the Regulations”). I wish to receive the following: 1. All records relating to the consultations required with the Minister for Housing and the Minister for Justice under Section 294(2)(a) of the Planning and Development Act 2024 (as amended); 2. All records relating to informing the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform as to the necessity for and composition of the Regulations, and obtaining his consent to the making of the Regulations as required under Section 294(2)(b) of the Planning and Development Act 2024 (as amended); 3. All data, reports, communications, correspondence, submissions and other relevant information considered by the Minister in relation to the matters prescribed by Section 294(3)(a) of the Planning and Development Act 2024 (as amended); 4. All data, reports, communications, correspondence, submissions and other relevant information considered by the Minister in relation to the matters prescribed by Section 294(3)(b) of the Planning and Development Act 2024 (as amended); 5. All data, reports, communications, correspondence, submissions and other relevant information considered by the Minister in relation to the matters prescribed by Section 294(3)(c) of the Planning and Development Act 2024 (as amended); 6. All data, reports, communications, correspondence, submissions and other relevant information considered by the Minister in relation to the matters prescribed by Section 294(3)(d) of the Planning and Development Act 2024 (as amended); 7. All data, reports, communications, correspondence, submissions and other relevant information considered by the Minister in relation to his decision to make the Regulations.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Verizon Communications Inc or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Web World or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Vodafone or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Viatel or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Vantage Data Centers or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Servecentric Dublin or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Pure Data Centres Group or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Microsoft or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Meta or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Keppel Data Centres or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and K2 Data Centres or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and IBM or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Google or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Equinix or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and EngineNode or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Energia Group or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Eircom Limited or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and EdgeConnex or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Echelon Data Centres or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Digital Reality or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and CyrusOne Data Centres or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and ColoCrossing or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Amazon Web Services or its representatives that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 16 June 2026Part-GrantedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of any correspondence, including attachments, between the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and the European Commission that relates to the EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 and the obligation on data centres to report key sustainability KPIs. I would like any records dating from 1 May 2024 to present.
- Received 18 May 2026Decided 12 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
records showing that the Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Bye-Law (No. C.S. 287) 2006 complied with the requirements of Regulation 31 of the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 94 of 1997).
- Received 15 May 2026Decided 12 June 2026Part-GrantedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
Copies of any correspondence between officials of principal officer level and above, and the ESB Networks, that relates to plug-in solar in Ireland, from 1 January 2025 to present.
- Received 15 May 2026Decided 12 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy of the submissions to the consultation held in September and October 2024, that related to plug-in mini solar systems.
- Received 24 April 2026Decided 4 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
1. Copy of the draft Wind Energy Development Guidelines that’s currently in progress as of 24 Apr 2026 and a status update on the Guidelines, including reasons for delays to meeting the target completion date of Q1 2025 as communicated by Deputy James Browne on Tues 11 Feb 2025. 2. All Meeting Minutes or any relevant records, in the public interest or concern for public health, relating to the updating of the Guidelines from the relevant department thats currently working on these Guidelines for the last 12 months. 3. All meeting minutes, relevant records, communications, in the public interest relating to Noise Consultants appointed in May 2023 in context of environmental noise remit as communicated by Deputy James Browne on Tues 11 Feb 2025. On Tuesday 28/04/2026 the request was refined to Part 3 only. On 14/05/2026, the request was further refined to: Under the AIE Regulations, I request access to the following records held by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment concerning the review and updating of the Wind Energy Development Guidelines, specifically in relation to environmental noise assessment and health considerations. Timeframe: 1 May 2023 to present. I request: 1. Any final reports, draft reports, technical assessments, recommendations or deliverables submitted by the noise consultants appointed in or around May 2023 in relation to wind turbine noise assessment methodologies, setback distances, low-frequency noise, amplitude modulation, or health impacts. 2. Any briefing notes, submissions, decision papers or memoranda prepared for the Minister or senior management concerning: - delays in updating the Wind Energy Development Guidelines; - reasons for delays associated with noise assessment work; - outstanding scientific, technical or health issues under consideration. 3. Records of meetings (including minutes, agendas or action notes) between the Department and: - the appointed noise consultants; - the Department of Health; - the HSE; - external scientific or acoustic advisors, where the primary subject was wind turbine noise assessment or health impacts 4. Any records setting out: - proposed or recommended noise limits; - revised setback guidance; - health-based assessment criteria; - policy options considered by the Department. 5. Any correspondence or briefing material prepared in response to parliamentary questions, ministerial representations or public statements made by Deputy James Browne on 11 February 2025 concerning the environmental noise remit or the work of the appointed consultants. To assist processing and reduce burden, I am content to exclude: - duplicate emails, - purely administrative scheduling correspondence, - circulated copies of published material already publicly available.
- Received 15 May 2026Decided 3 June 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
records of the appropriate assessment screening document required under the EU Habitats Directive with respect to the Pollack Fishing Conservation Bye-Law (No. 1028) 2026 for recreational fisheries located within Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).
- Received 14 May 2026Decided 29 May 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
I am writing to formally request specific information Noted below related Wind Energy Development Guidelines (WEDG). This request is made in alignment with the directives outlined in European Union Directive No. 2003/4/EC and the Irish European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007, as modified by the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) (Amendment) Regulations 2011, SI 662/2011, as well as subsequent amendments through European Community (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2014, SI 615/2014, and European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations) 2018, S.I. 309/2018. Report titled 'Spatial Modelling of the Wind Energy Resource in Ireland', prepared by RPS Group Ltd for SEAI. On 14/05/2026, the request was clarified to I am looking for a copy of the report titled Spatial Modelling of the Wind Energy Resource in Ireland', prepared by RPS Group Ltd.
- Received 30 April 2026Decided 29 May 2026Part-GrantedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
1. All records including documents, correspondence and emails relating to any factual information, data, evidence or consideration of the impact that the proposed scale of fees would have on environmental law judicial review cases, including the ability to challenge decisions affecting the environment, including planning and development decisions. 2. All records including documents, correspondence and emails relating to any factual information, data, evidence or consideration of the impact of the proposed scale of fees on Ireland’s compliance with the Aarhus Convention.
- Received 2 April 2026Decided 29 May 2026Part-GrantedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
Under the Access to Information on the Environment (AIE) Regulations 2007-2018 I am seeking records relating to the transposing of the Energy Efficiency Directive. Please provide any communication sent or received by the Department in relation to the transposing of the Energy Efficiency Directive and any delays in accomplishing this, covering the period 7 November 2025 to 2 April 2026. This includes any internal or external letters, emails, memos, reports, briefing material, or presentations relating to the above. It was confirmed and understood that this request relates only to the transposition of Article 12 of the Energy Efficiency Directive.
- Received 27 April 2026Decided 26 May 2026Part-GrantedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
I wish to ask for the following records to be released in full. Time period 1 January 2026-Present: A copy of the latest briefing, update report, or summary of findings to date in the review of the pass-through from wholesale electricity prices to retail electricity prices that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, requested the CRU to undertake. The briefing can be internal or received from CRU; A copy of the latest version of the review/report (draft or finalised); A copy of correspondence to/from CRU and the Department on the matter; A copy of minutes, presentations and/or briefings for meeting between CRU and the department on the matter;
- Received 1 May 2026Decided 22 May 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
records of the appropriate assessment screening document required under the EU Habitats Directive with respect to Lough Ree SAC/Lough Derg North-East Shore SAC for the Conservation of Trout (No. 8 or Limerick District) Bye-law (No. 949) 2017.
- Received 1 May 2026Decided 22 May 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
records of the appropriate assessment screening document required under the EU Habitats Directive with respect to Lough Ree SAC for the Shannon Fisheries Region (Close Season for Draft Netting of Trout on Lough Ree) Bye-law (No. 284) 2006.
- Received 19 May 2026Decided 21 May 2026TransferredDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
We request the following information under the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007 to 2018: We understand that an application has been made by SSE Renewables for a derogation licence under Regulation 54 of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations relating to works on and around the Arklow Bank, dated approximately 08/04/2026. We would be grateful if you could advise: 1. Whether this derogation licence has been granted; 2. The reference number associated with the application and/or licence; 3. Whether the file is publicly available; and 4. If publicly available, where it may be accessed. If the licence has been granted, we request, pursuant to the Access to Information on the Environment (AIE) Regulations, copies of: the derogation licence application submitted by SSE Renewables/Sure Partners; any licence, determination, or decision issued; associated ecological assessments and supporting documentation; correspondence relating to the application; and any internal assessments or determinations relevant to the decision-making process. The application is understood to relate to works on and around the Arklow Bank and to have been submitted on or around 08 April 2026.
- Received 18 March 2026Decided 15 May 2026Part-GrantedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
1. All correspondence — including emails, letters, memoranda, minutes of meetings, and any other written communications — between the Department (including any of its divisions or officials acting in their official capacity) and the European Commission (or any of its services, including DG Energy) concerning the implementation of Article 12 of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EU) 2023/1791 and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1364, in particular regarding data centre reporting obligations, the confidentiality of reported data, and the public disclosure of data centre energy performance information. Time period: 1 January 2023 to present. 2. All data centre energy performance reports submitted to the Department or through the Department to the European database pursuant to Article 12 EED, or any summaries, compilations, or analyses of such reports held by the Department. 3. Any internal guidance, policy documents, or legal assessments produced by or for the Department regarding the interpretation of the trade secrets and confidentiality exemptions under Article 12(1) EED and Article 5 of the Delegated Regulation, as applied to data centre reporting in Ireland. 4. Any correspondence between the Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) or the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) regarding the implementation of Article 12 EED and the handling of data centre energy performance data. Request amended on 02/04/2026 Please take the scope of this part of the request to cover correspondence with the European Commission in relation to the implementation of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1364, in particular regarding data centre reporting obligations, the confidentiality of reported data, and the public disclosure of data centre energy performance information, for the period from 6 June 2024 to the present. Regarding point 2, I note your clarification that data centre operators report directly into the European database and that no reports are held by the Department in that form. However, as you note yourself, Member States have access pursuant to Article 5(3) of the Delegated Regulation to all information communicated to the European database by data centres in their territory. On that basis, I would like to amend this part of my request as follows: I request that the Department retrieve and provide to me the data reported to the European database by individual data centres located in Ireland, as accessible to the Department under Article 5(3). I would note that Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1364 is a delegated act adopted under Article 290 TFEU. Article 5(5) of that Regulation cannot override the rights of access to environmental information established under Directive 2003/4/EC, as transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007–2018. A blanket policy of confidentiality applied to all data points, without individual assessment, is not consistent with these obligations. Should the Department consider that specific data points are exempt from disclosure, I would ask that a justification be provided in each individual case, specifying which exemption applies and why. Regarding point 3, I am glad this can be searched for and look forward to the results. Regarding point 4, I am happy to withdraw this part of the request.
- Received 15 April 2026Decided 14 May 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
Final Report for Phase 2 of the Land Use Review Phase 2 Oversight Group
- Received 17 April 2026Decided 12 May 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
records of the appropriate assessment screening document required under the EU Habitats Directive for the Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout (Bag Limits) Bye-Law (No. 1023) 2026 signed by the responsible Departmental Minister on April 2nd, 2026. records of all submissions received for the public consultation on the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations and Conservation Measures 2026, which ran from February 4th to March 5th, 2026, inclusive.
- Received 13 April 2026Decided 12 May 2026Part-GrantedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
I request the following data under the AIE regulations: - Bord na Móna / BnM Shareholder Letter of Expectation.
- Received 14 April 2026Decided 11 May 2026WithdrawnDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
I would like a record of the site visits and site assessments of Conigar Bog, NHA. I attach a copy of the site synopsis taken from the NPWS website, circa 1990’s. I am aware that there has more recently been a visit sponsored by the DAFM.
- Received 11 March 2026Decided 8 May 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
I request access to environmental information held by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications under the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007–2018 concerning the preparation, methodology, data sourcing, validation, and publication of the National Territory Map for Grid-Scale Solar PV ("the National Map"), published on 3 September 2025 under Article 15b of Directive (EU) 2023/2413 (Renewable Energy Directive III, “RED III”). The information sought concerns measures affecting land use, landscape, biodiversity, soil, and spatial planning across the national territory. It falls within Article 3(1)(a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) of the AIE Regulations. Timeframe 1 January 2022 to the date of this request. ………………………………………………. On 02/04/2026 the request was refined to Information Sought Records documenting the Department's validation, quality assurance, and verification procedures applied to local authority LARES solar data before incorporation into the national Territory Map, including: 1. Any record or records identifying which local authorities submitted or provided LARES solar mapping data, the date of receipt, and the format in which data was provided (GIS shapefiles, raster datasets, tabular, development plan excerpts, or other). 2. Documentation of quality assurance or validation procedures applied to local authority LARES solar data, including any testing for methodological consistency, spatial coverage gaps, attribute completeness, or alignment with national suitability criteria. 3. National-level reconciliation or harmonisation records addressing how methodological discrepancies between local authority LARES datasets were identified and resolved before publication in the national Map. 4. Technical specifications or guidance documents issued by the Department to local authorities specifying the required methodology, data standards, or suitability tier definitions to be applied in LARES preparation. (Search period for this item: 1 January 2018 - 31 December 2021.) 5. Internal decision documents or briefing memoranda addressing whether local authority LARES data met the Department's quality assurance requirements before publication in the national Territory Map. Scope Clarification & Exclusions The following scope limitations apply: Document type: Quality assurance reports, validation assessments, internal decision memoranda, data intake logs, and technical guidance only. Excluded: draft iterations and general email correspondence. Formal correspondence containing methodological determinations, validation results, or quality assurance findings is not excluded. Scope: National-level validation and quality assurance procedures only. Not requested: individual project assessments, site-specific reviews, or records relating to specific projects approved under the national Map. Timeframe: 1 January 2021 - 3 September 2025 (from final LARES adoption through national Map publication), save that item 4 above carries a search period of 1 January 2018 – 31 December 2021. Format: Electronic access, original format. Contractor-Held Records Where any of the above records are held by contractors acting on behalf of the Department, including Compass Informatics, I request that the Department take all reasonable steps to retrieve those records in accordance with Article 3(1) of the AIE Regulations.
- Received 8 April 2026Decided 6 May 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
This request relates to the evidential basis underpinning policy and decision making concerning the use of agricultural land for solar photovoltaic development in Ireland. In particular, I request access to the following records created or held from 1 January 2020 to date: 1. Any reports, analyses, briefing notes or internal assessments examining the land use implications of solar photovoltaic deployment, including any consideration of impacts on agricultural land availability, productivity or land use change. 2. Any records (including internal correspondence, briefing notes or submissions) discussing agrivoltaics or dual use solar farming, including: the evidential basis for such approaches, any identified benefits or limitations, and any consideration of how such practices are monitored or verified in Ireland. 3. Any records setting out or referring to datasets, methodologies, or evidence sources relied upon by the Department in forming policy positions on the siting of solar PV developments on agricultural land. 4. Any correspondence (including emails, briefing material or submissions) between the Department and other public bodies (including but not limited to the Department of Agriculture, SEAI, local authorities or An Coimisiún Pleanála) concerning: land use impacts of solar development, agrivoltaics or dual-use claims, or the absence or availability of monitoring data in this area. 5. Any internal or external records discussing limitations, uncertainties, or gaps in the evidence base relating to solar PV land use or agrivoltaics in Ireland.
- Received 20 April 2026Decided 24 April 2026GrantedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
records of Minister Dooley’s written communications with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in February of this year regarding the review of Atlantic salmon management as referenced in The Irish Mail on Sunday newspaper dated April 19th, 2026.
- Received 25 March 2026Decided 24 April 2026RefusedDepartment of Climate, Energy and the Environment
A copy relevant reports or documents with details of the status of the Western Star offshore wind energy project from the past 12 months. A copy relevant reports or documents with details of the status of the Green Atlantic project at Moneypoint from the past 12 months, particularly in relation to its development as a hub for offshore wind energy. A copy of any reports or maps pertaining to the West Coast DMAP (Designated Maritime Area Plan).