Colm Burke
Question:180. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to confirm when the Climate Action Plan 2026 (CAP26) will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27681/26]
View answerWednesday, 15 April 2026
Questions (180)
Written answers
This Government is committed to delivering on Ireland’s responsibility to address the climate crisis and work remains ongoing across Government Departments to carry out climate mitigation efforts every day, and the rollout of retrofitting, renewable energy deployment, and more affordable electric vehicles continues at pace. Ireland now has the lowest level of GHG emissions in 35 years which is notable given concurrent demographic and economic growth including an increase of approximately 1.5 million people, more than one million new homes and over one million extra vehicles on our roads.
We are making significant strides toward our target of 80% renewable energy by 2030, having now reached the major milestone of 8GW onshore renewable electricity generation. We are now prioritising the development of our offshore wind capacity. We have doubled our wind energy capacity over the past 10 years, just last month wind energy provided a record 50% of our electricity. The Government has also approved an unprecedented investment of €18.9 billion in Grid for the period 2026 – 2030 which is fundamental to the electrification of homes, businesses and transport. The 2025 ZEVI target for electrical vehicle sales of 195,000 was surpassed in October 2025, with sales now at 212,000 and I have recently announced an unprecedented package of new and enhanced grants for homeowners across the country who are looking to benefit from home energy upgrades under the National Residential Retrofit Plan.
These ongoing efforts are supported by Climate Action Plan 2025, in tandem with its predecessor, Climate Action Plan 2024, both of which remain in place and provide a strong framework for continued delivery of climate action across all sectors, given that many of the measures and actions in these plans are multi-annual in nature and effect. Work remains ongoing across Government Departments to deliver on these commitments and carry out climate mitigation efforts every day, supported by recently enhanced governance and delivery arrangements.
In line with the Programme for Government commitment, enhanced implementation governance structures to support accelerated climate action delivery have been put in place in 2025 to streamline structures and ensure that key strategic projects are supported.
Work is currently underway on the next Climate Action Plan. Following the extensive recommendations delivered by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy late last year, the Government is taking the necessary time to carefully finalize the Carbon Budget process. I am of the view that the next Climate Action Plan should reflect the outcome of that process. In that regard, my Department is working towards bringing a draft of the new Climate Action Plan to Government later this year.
The ongoing transition to a climate-neutral economy has profound implications for our economy and society. In formulating the next plan, Government must carefully consider a wide range of factors to ensure the approach is ambitious, feasible, and sustainable. It is vital that our climate policies and emissions reduction pathways deliver the best possible value for money while maximising the net benefits to society. We must protect the long-term competitiveness of the economy, maintain the State’s attractiveness for investment, and maximise employment opportunities while ensuring a just transition that supports communities right across the country