Written Answers Nos. 308-326
310. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to reverse the decision to ban salmon draft net fishing in 2026 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75312/25]
View answerNo decision has been made yet on measures for the 2026 season. Submissions received following public consultation on the proposals are currently being considered
The scientific advice informing management measures for 2026 is provided by the Technical Group on Salmon (TEGOS), in its Status of Irish Salmon Stocks in 2026 with Catch Advice for 2026, published at www.fisheriesireland.ie/publications. River-by-river assessments are set out in Appendix IV of that report.
Overall, the classification of rivers as open, catch-and-release only, or closed is based on probability-based scientific assessment carried out by TEGOS. Closure is proposed where the assessment indicates a high probability that stocks will fail to meet their conservation limit, even in the absence of fishing. A river closure is a temporary, stock-based conservation measure applied equally across all fishing methods and should not be conflated with a ban on fishing or on any particular method such as draft netting.
311. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the full range of powers available to local authorities to tackle the problem of dog dirt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1121/26]
View answerUnder the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution, including dog fouling, lies with local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement, and clean-up actions in relation to litter taking account of local circumstances and priorities. Persons failing to clean up after their dog has fouled may be issued with a fixed payment notice of €150 or on summary conviction to a Class B fine.
My Department provides financial support to local authority efforts to tackle litter through the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme. €750,000 was provided under this Scheme in 2025 with a comparable amount expected to be made available in 2026.
Funding is also provided annually in support of a number of important anti-litter initiatives such as the National Spring Clean, Picker Pals, the PURE Project and Irish Business against Litter (IBAL). It should be noted that the most recent IBAL survey published earlier this month reports that litter levels have fallen across the State over the last year, with a notable fall-off in the number of sites with accumulations of litter or subject to dumping.
312. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment in light of the opposition by anglers to the proposed new catch and release bye laws, if he will take action on the issues highlighted by a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1314/26]
View answerThe scientific advice informing measures for 2026 provided by the Technical Group on Salmon (TEGOS), in its Status of Irish Salmon Stocks in 2026 with Catch Advice for 2026, is published at www.fisheriesireland.ie/publications. Appendix IV of that report provides river-by-river assessments.
No decision has yet been made on proposed measures for the 2026 season.
A total of 326 submissions were received to a public consultation on the proposed measures and responses were received a wide range of stakeholders including members of the public, anglers, angling clubs, commercial licence holders, representative bodies and businesses dependent on angling tourism. Many of the items included in the Deputy’s Question were raised in stakeholders responses to the consultation. Submissions received remain under consideration.
313. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the Joint Committee investigation into the Munster Blackwater fish kill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1489/26]
View answer318. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 99 of 10 December 2025, the role which IFI are playing in the independent EU Joint Research Committee investigation into the Blackwater Fishkill; when did it begin, specifically the date; the other State agencies which are involved; the details he is aware of in relation to the report currently; if IFI will be hand picking individual anglers and river users to take part in the investigation; when it will be published; the purpose of the investigation, to gather information on the response of the State agencies; the possible pollution source; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74093/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 313 and 318 together.
Last October, I wrote to the Chair of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) asking IFI to lead an independent incident review of the Blackwater incident on behalf of the Inter-Agency Group established to oversee the investigation into the incident.
IFI subsequently secured the services of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in the European Commission to undertake this review. A letter of engagement was signed in early November 2025 and the review commenced shortly thereafter.
The purpose of this review is to consider the actions taken during the Blackwater incident, assess their effectiveness and make recommendations on how future prevention and response can be improved. JRC, as an independent scientific body, sets its own methodology and reaches its own conclusions. The JRC has full control over the review process, including who it engages with and how the analysis is carried out.
The review is expected to be completed soon. Before publication, the report will be independently reviewed within the JRC to ensure its scientific integrity. I look forward to receiving the report in due course.
314. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason a catch and release policy has been introduced on the Clare and Corrib Rivers in County Galway; if he will publish the full scientific basis for the proposed catch and release designation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1882/26]
View answer315. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the opportunities anglers and angling bodies have to contribute to the decisions surrounding river and fish stock management before a proposed decision is made; if he has considered involving these angling groups in the initial stages of analysing river and fish stock status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1883/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 315 together.
There are a number of established opportunities for anglers and angling bodies to contribute to decisions on river and stock management, including statutory consultation where anglers can make formal submissions during public consultations on proposed fisheries regulations or byelaws.
Some early-stage opportunities include:
Scientific data collection: Anglers make a direct scientific contribution through participation in data systems that underpin stock assessments such as rod catch returns, logbook and tagging data, and other voluntary reporting initiatives. This data feeds directly into the work of the Technical Group on Salmon (TEGOS), which provides the river-by-river stock assessments used to inform management decisions.
Local engagement: Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) regularly engages with anglers and groups through regional offices, meetings with angling and other clubs and catchment-specific events.
Representative structures: Anglers are represented through a range of angling representative bodies on the Department’s Angling Advisory Group and IFI’s National Inland Fisheries Forum, which provide input from the angling sector into fisheries policy and management decisions.
No decision has been made yet on measures for the 2026 season.
The scientific advice informing management measures for 2026 is provided by the TEGOS, in its Status of Irish Salmon Stocks in 2026 with Catch Advice for 2026, published at www.fisheriesireland.ie/publications. River-by-river assessments are set out in Appendix IV of that report.
Overall, the classification of rivers as open, catch-and-release only, or closed is based on probability-based scientific assessment carried out by TEGOS. Catch and release is proposed where adult forecast returns are at or are close to conservation limits and where the probability-based analysis indicates that allowing a harvest would reduce the likelihood of meeting those limits. The proposed classifications for the Clare and Corrib Rivers arise from the application of this probability-based methodology to their respective stock assessments, as set out in Appendix IV of the TEGOS Report.
316. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is aware of an Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) survey conducted in 2025 which notes that salmon stocks on the Boyne and Kells Blackwater river has seen a catastrophic collapse, down to 10% of the conservation limit for the catchments; considering that salmon are a qualifying interest in the Boyne/Kells Blackwater SAC if he will consider it appropriate at this time to publish an SAC management plan to aid the recovery of the Boyne/Kells Blackwater salmon to favourable status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2381/26]
View answerThe scientific advice informing measures for 2026 is provided by the Technical Group on Salmon (TEGOS), in its Status of Irish Salmon Stocks in 2026 with Catch Advice for 2026, published at www.fisheriesireland.ie/publications. Appendix IV of that report provides a river-by-river assessment.
Stocks are assessed by TEGOS over the most recent five-year period, using an established, science-based methodology that is applied consistently across all salmon rivers. This methodology draws on best available information from a range of sources, including fish counter data, catch data and catchment wide electrofishing (CWEF) surveys.
The CWEF survey undertaken by Inland Fisheries Ireland in summer 2025 in the Boyne indicate that salmon fry levels are well under that considered to indicate a healthy stock. The TEGOS report indicates that the Boyne salmon stock is meeting only 10% of its conservation limit and scientific advice for 2026 is that the stock remain closed to fishing.
There are multiple actions underway by IFI to address pressures on the Boyne salmon stock. These include hydromorphological pressures associated with historic arterial drainage, water quality issues primarily associated with agriculture, and climate-related pressures affecting survival. IFI has a central role in researching and evaluating the impacts of such pressures as well monitoring and reporting on the status of our salmon stocks, including through the designation of the Boyne as a key index site under its Climate Change Mitigation Research Programme.
IFI has supported a number of habitat rehabilitation projects in the Boyne catchment. These include work on tributaries including the Enfield Blackwater, Garr, Knightsbrook, Mongadh, Skane and Stoneyford Rivers. Measures undertaken include habitat restoration, rehabilitation of spawning areas, fencing to exclude livestock, the introduction of solar drinkers and riparian tree-planting to improve shading and climate resilience. IFI has indicated that support for such remediation projects will continue in the Boyne in light of the concerning status of salmon stocks in the river.
IFI has also recently opened a new call under the National Barrier Mitigation Scheme to support projects that improve river connectivity by removing or reducing the impact of man-made barriers. This funding opportunity is open to stakeholders along the Boyne and IFI has advised that it is happy to engage with all interested parties. A number of project proposals are currently in development within the River Boyne Catchment, including at locations on the River Deel, Kells Blackwater, Knightsbrook and Skane Rivers.
Atlantic salmon are a qualifying interest of the Boyne and Blackwater Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive, however, the preparation and publication of management plans for Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) is a statutory process led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and operates separately from fisheries management arrangements.
317. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the supports available for a community group who missed the drawdown date of the Climate Action Fund due to a lack of contractors willing to complete the works and whether this can be extended.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73929/25]
View answer321. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if an application to the Climate Action Fund (details supplied) will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74195/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 317 and 321 together.
The Community Climate Action Programme (CCAP) aims to support and empower communities, in partnership with their Local Authority, to shape and build low carbon, sustainable communities in a coherent way and thereby to contribute to national climate and energy targets.
Strand 1 of the CCAP will provide €50.9M in funding across two phases to Local Authorities to partner with community groups to run projects that will contribute to national climate and energy targets. It provides an administration contribution to each Local Authority towards the cost of a Community Climate Action Officer (CCAO) in each Local Authority to liaise with grantees and assist them in ensuring project completion.
All applications, requests for extensions, and other queries must be applied for through the Community Climate Action Officer in the grantee's Local Authority. Grant agreements are between the Local Authority and the community group, who are working in partnership to complete the projects and changes must be agreed between the two parties to the agreement. My Department does not accept direct representations for individual projects through the CCAP and any information in relation to a specific application should be sought from the relevant Local Authority.
319. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a list of AI pilot projects which have taken place in his Department within the past 12 months; the expenditure associated with those projects; and whether they are still ongoing, in tabular form. [74128/25]
View answerMy Department continues to take advice from the National Cyber Security Centre in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and is following the recommendations provided in June 2023.
All applications used within the Department are required to be in line with Departmental policies and procedures. Although my Department is actively exploring the opportunities and policy considerations presented by AI, it is not currently in use in the Department.
320. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his plans for the introduction of statutory requirements obliging landowners to clear and maintain certain voltage-specific corridors for overhead electric lines (details supplied); and the timeline for this legislation. [74152/25]
View answerThe Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025 is being progressed by my Department as part of a wider programme of work to strengthen the resilience of Ireland’s electricity network in the context of climate change and increasingly severe storm events. A central objective of the Bill is to support enhanced storm preparedness through improved management of the interaction between forestry and the electricity network. Local communities cannot be expected to endure major storm impacts through the loss of power caused by trees falling on the network. In this context, the Bill and associated policy measures are underpinned by key strands of work outlined below.
Firstly, work is underway on the development of an enduring electricity corridor design. This is being informed by an international review of best practice in forestry corridor management, forestry design standards, and structured stakeholder engagement.
Secondly, the Bill will provide for electricity corridors to be placed on a statutory footing. This will safeguard electricity corridors in all new forestry development and will support the retrospective creation of corridors in existing forestry, using a risk-based approach delivered through a phased, multi-year programme.
Thirdly, an annual corridor clearance programme has been established by ESB Networks. Detailed surveys of overhead line corridors have already provided a strong evidence base on windblow risk. This information will be used to prioritise an annual, multi-year corridor clearance programme, targeted at those locations presenting the highest risk to customer resilience from forestry-related outages.
The overarching objective is to ensure that overhead electricity networks and forestry can co-exist in a manner that delivers a secure and reliable electricity supply.
The Government approved the Heads of this Bill last July and work on advancing the legislation continues with a view to publication at the earliest opportunity.
322. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reasons a catch and release policy has been introduced on the Owenea river, County Donegal; the reason the Loughros More estuary, County Donegal has been closed for fishing in 2026; if he has considered the assertions from the local community that the Owenea river and the Owentocker river both have high fry counts; and if these decisions will be reconsidered. [74198/25]
View answerNo decision has yet been made on proposed measures for the 2026 season. Submissions received following public consultation on the proposals are currently being considered.
The scientific advice informing measures for 2026 is provided by the Technical Group on Salmon (TEGOS), in its Status of Irish Salmon Stocks in 2026 with Catch Advice for 2026, published at www.fisheriesireland.ie/publications, with river-by-river assessments set out in Appendix IV of that report.
Overall, the classification of rivers as open, catch-and-release only, or closed is based on probability-based scientific assessment carried out by TEGOS. Catch and release is proposed where adult forecast returns are at or are close to conservation limits and where the probability-based analysis indicates that allowing a harvest would reduce the likelihood of meeting those limits. Closure is proposed where the assessment indicates a high probability that stocks will fail to meet their conservation limit, even in the absence of fishing.
The proposed classifications for the Ownea river and the Loughros Mor estuary arise from the application of this probability-based methodology to their respective stock assessments.
TEGOS stock assessments are based on forecast numbers of returning adult salmon measured against river-specific conservation limits, in line with established EU and international best practice. Juvenile fry data is taken into account as an indicator, but do not determine annual catch advice, as it is the number of adult salmon returning to spawn that directly sustains the population.
323. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the engagement between his Department and EnergyCloud Ireland in relation to the use of surplus renewable electricity that would otherwise be curtailed to provide free hot water to households experiencing energy poverty; the details of any policy, regulatory or funding supports in place or under consideration to scale such demand-side initiatives nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74215/25]
View answer324. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the way in which his Department is engaging with the EnergyCloud Ireland initiative, including the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council pilot, as a measure to reduce household energy poverty; if his Department has assessed the typical savings to participating households, the proportion of participating households in receipt of the fuel allowance or other income supports and whether a referral or co-ordination pathway will be developed to support national expansion to eligible households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74217/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 324 together.
My Department is acutely aware that with the scale of distributed renewable electricity generation sources coming forward, the grid needs to be more flexible to account for the intermittent nature of renewables. Moreover, for the decarbonisation pathway to be efficient, our energy system must be smart. A smart and flexible energy system will reduce consumer energy bills by reducing the amount of generation and network assets that need to be built to meet peak demand. Consequently, the deployment and integration of energy smart appliances, such as electric vehicle (EV) charge points, domestic battery energy storage systems, heat pumps, and hot water heating solutions, is a crucial step for empowering households and businesses to play a central role in Ireland’s energy transition.
EnergyCloud is a privately-organised and funded social enterprise, and my Department is not in a position to assess savings associated with the programme, or the characteristics of beneficiaries of the programme to date. Officials from my Department have met with EnergyCloud on a number of occasions, including most recently in late December, and will continue to engage with EnergyCloud and other relevant stakeholders to identify areas for cooperation in relation to tackling energy poverty and renewable energy waste. I am due to meet with representatives of EnergyCloud shortly.
A new Demonstration and Innovation Delivery Programme is under development by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland with the intention of identifying solutions to smart energy challenges, testing applications and assessing impacts. This will be crucial for the successful integration of flexible energy assets in homes, businesses and communities and will ensure that these assets can optimise energy use for consumers, as well as allow consumers to participate in flexible demand management services as these become available.
The National Energy Affordability Taskforce has also been established by my Department to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability. It will consider the use of smart technologies to benefit energy poor households and other vulnerable citizens.
325. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the oversight arrangements and performance indicators that apply to the CRU, including any agreed targets for compliance activity, enforcement outcomes, complaint-handling timelines and customer protection measures; if any value-for-money review, performance review or governance review of the CRU has been completed or initiated since 2020; if so, the headline findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74227/25]
View answerThe Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is an independent regulator, accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas. The oversight mechanism, in line with the provisions of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016 (as amended), is an ‘Oversight Agreement’, between my Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the CRU.
Since early 2024, my Department has been working with the CRU to undertake a review of its leadership structures, resourcing requirements, functions, and accountability mechanisms, as committed to under Actions 21 and 26 of the Energy Security Package. As part of this review, a report on governance arrangements in the CRU was produced by Europe Economics in May 2024.
The Programme for Government 2025 also makes a commitment to "prioritise a review and reform of the legislation underpinning the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU)".
The information sought in the remainder of the Question, including with regards to any reviews carried out by the CRU, is a matter for the State body concerned. The Deputy can contact the CRU directly in relation to this matter. Contact details for the body are as follows: oireachtas@cru.ie
326. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether standards or service-level targets exist for his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department in responding to correspondence from members of local authorities; if compliance with such standards is monitored; the reasons for delays or failures to respond to correspondence from elected members; and the measures being taken to ensure more consistent and timely communication going forward. [74267/25]
View answerMy Department has put in place a detailed Customer Charter which sets out the processes, standards and outlines expectations for any external contact with the Department.
As set out in the Customer Charter, the standards which my Department endeavours to adhere to include the following:
• acknowledge receipt of correspondence within 2 working days;
• written response within 20 working days, where possible;
• use of clear and plain language, with explanation of any technical terms as necessary; and
• provision of service through the Irish Language, per the Official Language Act requirements.
An eCorrespondence system is the preferred method of managing such communications as it provides both official record keeping as aligned with the Department’s obligations under the National Archives Act, as well as allowing for monitoring of correspondence levels and response performances.
The eCorrespondence system is monitored and managed within the Department for compliance with the above. Reminders are sent to Divisions where timelines are not met.
While my Department endeavours to meet its obligations as set out above, each individual request must be addressed on its own merit and in its own context. The broad remit of my Department can mean that some requests, particularly those which address specialist or technical matters, can move beyond the 20 working day response timeline to ensure and accurate and comprehensive response.
I have directly engaged with officials in my Department to update and improve the eCorrespondence and general response system in the Department. I am confident that measures have now been taken to ensure consistency in response standards and timing.
My Department will continue to monitor the overall performance of the eCorrespondence system and will seek at all times to adhere as closely as possible to the customer charter in order to ensure that all requests are dealt with appropriately.
