Written Answers Nos. 147-166
161. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to report on the first meeting of the national energy affordability taskforce; the measures actioned as a result of this meeting; when the taskforce will next meet; to report on those who attended the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35237/25]
View answerMy Department has established the National Energy Affordability Taskforce with the objective of identifying, assessing and implementing measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, operating within the broader policy context set by the Programme for Government and the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021.
I chaired the first meeting of the Taskforce in my Department's offices on 19 June. This meeting heard presentations from the National Economic and Social Council, the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, as well as updates from Taskforce members on relevant programmes underway to support energy affordability for households and businesses.
The Taskforce meeting was attended by officials from my Department, as well as representatives from the following organisations:
• Department of the Taoiseach
• Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment
• Department of Finance
• Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Sector Reform and Digitalisation
• Department of Social Protection
• Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
• Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU)
• Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)
• The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI)
• ESB Networks
• EirGrid
• Gas Networks Ireland
Taskforce meeting minutes will be published on my Department's website, after being agreed at the subsequent meeting. The next Taskforce meeting is expected to take place later in the summer.
162. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to list the competent authorities with the authority to prepare a DMAP proposal, designated under the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021. [35246/25]
View answerAs Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, I am the competent authority for the purposes of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive. This authorises me as Minister to prepare Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) proposals and make DMAPs.
Section 20 of the Maritime Area Planning Act, 2021 specifies the process for the designation, by me as the Minister, of other public bodies to make DMAPs. To date, no public body has applied to be designated as a competent authority for the purposes of preparing a DMAP.
Prior to the transfer of the marine planning functions to my Department in May 2023, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage designated the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications as a competent authority for the purposes of preparing DMAPs for all offshore renewable energy development in the Irish maritime area. Due to the subsequent transfer of functions to my Department this designation is now redundant.
163. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the preparations his Department is undertaking to contribute to Ireland’s engagement at the 2025 UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35313/25]
View answerPreparations are underway for the upcoming High-Level Political Forum taking place shortly at the UN Headquarters in New York. This year’s theme for the Forum is “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and ensuring that no one is left behind.”
An outcome of the UNHLPF will be the Ministerial Declaration, to be adopted towards the end of the Forum, which identifies the current situation and challenges, alongside future actions and investment pathways needed to reinforce the 2030 Agenda and deliver on the SDGs.
With regard to this, my Department has been engaging with other Departments including, in particular, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Ireland’s Permanent Representation to the UN, to ensure Ireland’s development priorities, and those of the EU, are included in the final Declaration.
My Department has also been engaging cross-sectorally with other Government Departments regarding Ireland’s progress and priorities on the SDGs under review at this year’s Forum - SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
At the Forum, I, along with delegates from my Department, will engage with representatives from other Member States on important issues around Agenda 2030, through bilaterals, meetings and events.
164. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for details of the dates and attendees of all meetings if the Biomethane Implementation Group, which is implementing the national biomethane strategy, chaired by his Department. [35315/25]
View answerTo assist in the achievement of our national and EU climate and energy targets, the Government has committed to supporting the production of up to 5.7 TWh of indigenously produced biomethane annually by 2030. A first step to realising this ambition was the publication of the National Biomethane Strategy, which sets out 25 key strategic actions and outlines the necessary supports needed to drive growth across the biomethane sector.
Chaired by my Department, the Biomethane Implementation Group oversees implementation of the strategy and monitors overall target delivery. The Implementation Group consists of relevant Government Departments, Agencies and industry representative groups, including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment; the Department of Transport; the Commission for Regulation of Utilities; Teagasc; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; the Renewable Gas Forum Ireland; the Irish BioEnergy Association; Gas Networks Ireland; and Enterprise Ireland.
The Group has met four times since its formation in 2024 (September and December 2024, March and May 2025) and will meet again in September 2025.
It continues to engage with action owners and key stakeholders to finalise a full progress report which will provide an update on key deliverables, including publication of the Biomethane Charter, and development of the Biomethane Information Hub and Communications Strategy.
It is expected that the progress report will be published on Gov.ie shortly.
165. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment when planning guidelines will be put in place as part of the national biomethane strategy for biogas plants. [35316/25]
View answerIn line with the agreed sectoral emissions ceilings, Government has committed to supporting the production of up to 5.7 TWh of indigenously produced biomethane annually by 2030. A first step to realising this ambition was the publication of the National Biomethane Strategy which sets out 25 key strategic actions and outlines the necessary supports needed to drive growth across the biomethane sector. Chaired by my Department, the Biomethane Implementation Group will oversee delivery of the strategy.
While Anaerobic Digestors (AD), used to produce biomethane, can bring significant benefits to the communities and local environment in which they are located, they are also significant infrastructure, with impacts on the environment, biospheres, and local communities. Priority deliverables under the strategy include actions 5f and 5g which will see the development of planning guidelines to support Local Authorities when assessing AD plants with planning applications, and a review of resourcing requirements of key Government Agencies to support development of the industry. These actions will be delivered through collaboration among key Departments and Agencies.
Finally, it is my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage who has responsibility for the overall development of national planning policy and legislation which includes the appropriate setback rules for AD facilities. AD and other integrated assets are required to undergo a planning process to ensure proper consideration of a range of factors, including location, visual impact, land-zoning plans, and ecology. Guidelines and requirements for these are currently set out through legislation, policy documents, spatial strategies, and development plans. Projects above a certain threshold are also required to complete an Environmental Impact Assessment.
166. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether the targets under the national biomethane strategy, which aims to have approximately 200 anaerobic digestion plants and 5.7Twh of renewable gas in place by 2030, are realistic. [35317/25]
View answerTo assist in the achievement of our national and EU climate and energy targets, the Government has committed to supporting the production of up to 5.7 TWh of indigenously produced biomethane annually by 2030. Delivery of this target, and the use of biomethane within our energy system will have multiple cross-sectoral benefits for Ireland’s economy, energy security and emissions profile. A first step to realising this ambition was the publication of the National Biomethane Strategy which was published in May 2024. The strategy sets out a pathway to achieving Ireland’s biomethane production target, addresses the challenges that need to be overcome, and outlines the necessary supports and policy enablers needed to drive growth across the sector.
Implementation of the National Biomethane Strategy is an ongoing process of collaboration across key Government Departments and Agencies.
A Biomethane Implementation Group, chaired by my Department, has been established to oversee implementation of the strategy and delivery of the 25 key strategic actions to ensure the necessary infrastructure and supports are in place to underpin development of an indigenous biomethane industry of scale.
The Group reports directly to the Heat and Built Environment Taskforce on ongoing progress, and continues to engage with action owners and key stakeholders to finalise a full progress report.
The report, to be published shortly on Gov.ie, will provide an update on key deliverables including publication of the Biomethane Charter, and development of the Biomethane Information Hub and Communications Strategy.
