Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
504. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the reason the revised RRF plan has dropped the measure ‘Accelerate Decarbonisation of the Enterprise Sector’; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12020/26]
View answerIreland will receive approximately €1.15 billion in funding from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) in respect of measures included in our National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The programme period runs from 2021 to 2026.
The RRF is a performance-based instrument with payment contingent on evidenced completion of agreed milestones and targets. The NRRP is pre-funded through the estimates process and the National Development Plan. RRF allocated funding is then recouped from the EU after the agreed milestones and targets have been achieved and verified.
The RRF allocation is paid to Ireland in five instalments. Ireland received its first payment of €324 million in July 2024, its second payment of €115 million on 30 June 2025, and its third payment of €240 million on 11 November 2025. Following ECOFIN approval of an amended NRRP on 20 January 2026, Ireland formally submitted its fourth RRF payment request of €249 million on 10 February. The fifth and final payment request has a value of approximately €225 million and must be submitted by 30 September 2026.
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is the Accountable Department with responsibility for project 1.2 - ‘Accelerate Decarbonisation of the Enterprise Sector’ which was included in the NRRP.
An extensive exercise was undertaken last year between the Commission, the NRRP Implementing Body in my Department, and all Accountable Departments to deliver a final revision of the Irish NRRP to ensure that Ireland would maximise drawdown under the Fund. During this process, it was determined that project 1.2 would not be in a position to achieve and verify the milestones and targets within the timeframe of the RRF. As a result, the project was removed from the amended NRRP approved in January.
I am advised that the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment remains committed to driving competitiveness and sustainability in business and industry through decarbonisation.
