A new Bill has been introduced to alleviate the "burdensome" regulations surrounding solar panels.

Sinn Féin's Solar Panel Bill would allow domestic dwellings, community buildings, schools and industrial buildings to install solar panels freely without planning permission where the panel does not exceed 50% of the total roof area.

Launching the Bill, Brian Stanley TD said: "This is a simple Bill which would make it easier for families, businesses and schools to put a solar panel on their roof.

"Our office has heard countless stories from households and community groups that the current regulations on solar panels are burdensome and turn people off the idea.

-- Advertisement --

"Sinn Féin is putting forward this proposal as a solution to remove what are unnecessary obstructions in the law."

Deputy Stanley welcomed the Government's recent decision to adopt his party's Microgeneration Bill, but has called for an increase in solar panels to help make the scheme work.

He added: "For any microgeneration scheme to work, however, we need to see a huge increase in solar panels across the island and they need to be installed across a variety of building types. This Bill would address that issue.

"We also need to ensure that it is affordable for households to retrofit their homes with solar panels. We need to ensure that Schools are provided with the state capital to do the same.

"People want to see tangible solutions to climate change. They want to see immediate action in which they can play a role whether it is through their local community GAA club or school board. This Bill would allow for that change to happen.

"Sinn Féin are calling on all parties to support this Bill, this is something which we should all agree upon."