Written Answers Nos. 13-32
13. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment in view of the fact that Inland Fisheries Ireland operates a facility (details supplied) in County Galway under licence from his Department, if Inland Fisheries Ireland notified him of its imminent closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55539/25]
View answerInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has kept both me and the Department officials informed on the decision of the Board of IFI on this matter.
I should note that management of hatchery operations is an operational matter for IFI in which neither I, nor the Department, have a function.
14. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the recreational fisheries which will be subject to fishing authorisations and catch declarations in the future as per Article 55.4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55541/25]
View answer22. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if Article 55 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009 affects recreational inland fisheries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55552/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 22 together.
Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009 establishes a control system to ensure compliance with the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). In November 2023, this Regulation was amended by Regulation (EU) No. 2023/2842 which updated Article 55 and introduces measures for the control of recreational marine fisheries for the first time, effective from 2026. These measures include the registration of recreational fishers, electronic reporting of catches, data collection and gear marking.
Article 55(4) of Regulation No. 1224/2009, as referred to by the Deputy, which relates to fishing authorisations and catch declarations will be removed and replaced by amended text from Regulation No. 2023/2842, when that Regulation takes effect in 2026.
The scope of Regulation No. 1224/2009 (as amended) is limited to marine fisheries covered by the CFP. Inland (freshwater) recreational fisheries fall outside the scope of this Regulation and continue to be governed by the provisions set out in national legislation.
15. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the specific responsibilities and powers of Coimisiún na Meán in relation to the enforcement of take-back obligations on online distance sellers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55588/25]
View answer26. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if, in view of the fact that Ireland’s municipal waste recycling rate has remained at 41% for the past decade, well below the EU target of 55% for 2025, if he will outline the measures his Department is taking to ensure that distance sellers are meeting their legal obligations in relation to waste collection, recycling and producer responsibility schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55571/25]
View answer27. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if, in view of Ireland’s municipal waste recycling rate remaining at 41% for the past decade, well below the 55% target for 2025, his Department has assessed the merits of introducing a pay-on-behalf system to address non-compliance by distance sellers with their waste and recycling obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55572/25]
View answer28. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the measures he will take to rectify the imbalance in obligations for product take-back and recycling between domestic retailers and distance sellers, with a view to ensuring that all businesses placing products on the Irish market are subject to equivalent environmental compliance requirements. [55573/25]
View answer31. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will consider commissioning an assessment of the costs incurred by Irish retailers as a result of distance sellers who fail to comply with their take-back obligations under extended producer responsibility schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55586/25]
View answer32. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the specific responsibilities and powers of the Environmental Protection Agency in relation to the enforcement of extended producer responsibility rules as they apply to distance sellers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55587/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 26, 27, 28, 31 and 32 together.
Producer Responsibility legislation is designed to ensure that producers of relevant goods contribute to the costs of collecting and recycling these goods when they are no longer in use. Ensuring all obligated producers pay their share is critical to the credibility and success of these schemes, known as Extended Producer Responsibility schemes (EPRs). In Ireland, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local authorities both have enforcement roles under the legislation. Those bodies work together, and with the EPR organisations, to ensure compliance in the Irish market and to contribute to achievement of EU recycling targets.
The EPA is responsible for enforcing certain obligations on both distance sellers and distributors under the Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment Regulations and Batteries Regulations, and may take a prosecution for a summary offence for failure to comply with the regulations. Further information on the obligations of distance sellers is available here: www.epa.ie/publications/compliance--enforcement/waste/Guidance-for-distance-sellers-of-EEE-and-Batteries.pdf.
Compliance of distance sellers is a critical issue for EPR. Free-riding distance sellers enjoy a cost advantage over their counterparts who have paid their EPR fees. The Department is working with stakeholders and regulators to tackle this issue both systemically and at the level of individual operators.
Recent circular economy legislation for batteries and packaging waste refers Member States to provisions available under the EU Digital Services Act. How to leverage the measures under that Act is the subject of discussion between the Department and stakeholders currently. Other approaches such as a 'Pay on Behalf' model led by a host online platform, also offers opportunities to promote compliance and forms part of the suite of measures being actively explored.
This matter is of concern across the EU. The European Commission has issued a Call for Evidence in preparation for publishing a proposed Circular Economy Act next year. Ireland will work with the Commission and other Member States to support measures for EPRs that ensure fair competition in the EU market are included in that legislation.
16. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he has engaged with EirGrid and ESB regarding the amount of funding they have allocated to facilitating new data centre connections through Exchequer funding; if this data is recorded; and if so, to provide a detailed breakdown funding provided for this purpose in each of the years since 2020, in tabular form. [55871/25]
View answer54. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to outline how the commitment in Budget 2026 to leverage “the €3.5 billion equity into semi-state energy companies to boost electricity supply and make the network more sustainable and resilient” will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55892/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 54 together.
On 22 July 2025 Government approved a €3.5 billion investment in Ireland’s electricity infrastructure across 2026-2030 as part of the National Development Plan. This represents the largest single investment in the country’s electricity network in its history.
€1.5 billion will be allocated to ESB Networks to support investment in the onshore electricity grid and €2 billion will be allocated to EirGrid to support the financing of its offshore electricity grid investment plan. Government approval has now been secured to draft a Bill providing for the investment in ESB, and it is hoped to publish the Bill in the coming weeks.
The equity investment will support the ability to finance the unprecedented investment in our electricity system proposed for 2026-2030 as part of the Price Review 6 period. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, as the independent regulator, as part of their draft determination has set out proposed investment of up to €18.1 billion in the electricity system, with a €14.1 billion baseline investment guaranteed. A final determination by the CRU is expected by year end.
My Department will continue to engage closely with ESB and EirGrid to ensure that the equity injection is used effectively to meet commitments under Price Review 6. Enhancing the electricity grid will play a crucial part in delivering on Programme for Government commitments across housing, competitiveness, security of supply and renewable energy.
17. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if there have been any resignations from the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) this calendar year considering that IFI operates under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55546/25]
View answerThere have been two resignations from the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland to date in 2025, with both resignations being for personal reasons.
To concur with current Government policy for appointments to State Boards, officials in my Department are engaging with both Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Public Appointments Service (PAS), who operate the State Boards portal, www.stateboards.ie, to fill these vacancies as soon as possible.
18. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the principal officer of the Inland Fisheries Division within his Department, is on secondment to the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55548/25]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the Principal Officer with responsibility for Inland Fisheries within my Department is not on secondment to the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union.
19. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will issue a Section 14 Authorisation under the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959, for the operation of a facility (details supplied) in Autumn 2025 as per standard practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55549/25]
View answerAn application for a Section 14 Authorisation on this matter was submitted to the Department on 15 September and is currently under review.
20. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if a Departmental policy has been agreed to impose a total catch and release model for recreational salmon angling in the jurisdiction for 2026; and if his officials have considered the adverse implications for all other forms of angling particularly the mandatory use of single and double barbless hooks where salmon reside; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55550/25]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that no such policy has been agreed for 2026.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) manages salmon stocks on an individual river basis as each of Ireland’s 147 salmon rivers (including river sections and estuaries) has its own genetically unique stock of salmon. IFI is supported in its management role by the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS), comprising scientists from a range of organisations. Scientific and management assessments of each of the distinct stocks in our river systems are carried out every year, with IFI engaged in extensive stock monitoring which feeds into the scientific committee's annual reviews.
Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations are made each year to set out the position regarding the management of the wild salmon and sea trout fishery in Ireland. The Regulations are based on my consideration of these individual annual scientific assessments of Ireland's salmon rivers with sustainability of the species being our overarching objective. This scientific assessment will inform my consideration of the position ahead of the 2026 season.
21. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if it is the intention of his Departmental officials to legislatively take control of stock management (invasive pike culling) operations on Lough Corrib SAC in County Galway as was attempted under Regulation 7 of the 2021 Draft Designated Salmonid Waters Bye-Law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55551/25]
View answerManagement of fisheries and specific operations thereto are a matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) as the independent statutory body for the management, protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource in Ireland.
The Department has no intention to take control of such operational matters.
23. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will clarify the intended scope and purpose of the newly announced National Biomethane Market; if this initiative will extend beyond biomethane production to include investment in market infrastructure such as refuelling facilities, grid injection points and logistics support for biomethane-powered transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55568/25]
View answer24. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the way in which the National Biomethane Market will differ from or complement the National Biomethane Strategy; whether the market will address barriers such as access to refuelling infrastructure for biomethane heavy-duty vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55569/25]
View answer25. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the timeline for industry consultation on the design of the National Biomethane Market; whether stakeholders in the transport and logistics sector will be invited to participate in shaping the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55570/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 24 and 25 together.
Extensive analysis was carried out as part of the development of the National Biomethane Strategy to determine the necessary interventions needed to support development of the industry, and deliver in line with Government ambition by 2030. This analysis included engagement with key Government Departments and wider stakeholders, including in the transport sector.
As outlined in the strategy, Government agreed to the provision of two capital grant support programmes, and the introduction of the Renewable Heat Obligation, which will put Ireland on a trajectory to delivering a strong indigenous biomethane industry.
Budget 2026 demonstrates the Government's commitment to accelerate Ireland’s energy transition and underpin Ireland’s journey to a net-zero future. The €500 million allocation to my Department, under the Infrastructure Climate and Nature Fund, in the revised National Development Plan for 2026-2030 will be delivered across a number of programmes which will accelerate the diversification and decarbonisation of Ireland’s energy system, including the development of our newly emerging national biomethane market. Further detail on programme allocations will be announced shortly.
29. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the specific measures and initiatives to which the additional €157 million dedicated to circular economy measures in Budget 2026 will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55584/25]
View answerDetails of the 2026 allocations for my Department are published at programme level in the budget day abridged estimates (copy attached) with a total of €85.4m current and €71.5m capital allocated to the Circular Economy Development programme in 2026.
In line with usual practice, allocations at subhead level will be finalised and published later this year in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2026.
30. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the specific measures and initiatives to which the additional €64 million dedicated to the Environmental Protection Agency in Budget 2026 will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55585/25]
View answerThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allocation under Vote 29 for 2026 is currently being finalised and will be set out in the Revised Estimates Volume 2026 in due course. For details of EPA activity and its expenditure, please refer to the latest annual report and audited accounts available at www.epa.ie/publications/corporate/governance/EPA-Annual-Report-2024-EN.pdf.
