Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 December 2025
110. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the key measures taken to enhance environmental protection during 2025; his priorities for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73128/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraProtecting our environment remains a key priority for the Government. My Department is responsible for setting the policy and legislative framework within which the key environmental regulators, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the local authorities, discharge their functions.
The EPA noted in the 2025 Industrial and Waste Licence Enforcement Summary Report (www.epa.ie/publications/compliance--enforcement/licensees/performance/FINAL-2024-EPA-Industrial-Waste-Licence-Enforcement-Summary-Report.pdf) that 1,309 inspections of industrial and waste facilities were carried out in the previous year and that 96% of such inspections which were unannounced.
The Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 was published in August 2025 and has completed Dáil Éireann, Third Stage. The proposals in the Bill aim to facilitate:
• the timely development of critical infrastructure in the energy sector, which will facilitate the transition to renewables;
• the deployment of better emissions abatement and other progressive environmental protection technologies which require amendments to licences; and
• securing of investment in infrastructure (including circular economy infrastructure) which will in turn stimulate significant sustainable economic activity within a well-regulated environmental licensing regime.
The EPA also noted in the Local Authority Environmental Enforcement Performance Report 2024 (www.epa.ie/publications/compliance--enforcement/public-authorities/Local-Authority-Environmental-Enforcement-Performance-Report-2024.pdf) that local authorities improved their environmental enforcement performance by 20% over the past three years, with 79% of the National Enforcement Priority (NEP) assessments meeting the required standard in 2024.
A key priority for 2026 is the progression of the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 and the development of the supporting secondary legislation as well as the transposition of the revised Industrial Emissions Directive.
In relation to air quality, the 2025 progress report on the implementation of Ireland’s Clean Air Strategy noted that Ireland is compliant with all current EU ambient air quality standards and that Ireland came back into compliance with the National Emissions Reduction Commitment Directive (NECD) during 2023. The Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill was published in July 2025 and has completed Seanad Éireann, Second Stage. This Bill aims to further support enforcement action by the local authorities to protect our air quality and improve the registration and compliance systems in relation to the commercial sale and supply of solid fuels. As Minister, my priorities for 2026 include: progressing the Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the development of the supporting secondary legislation; transposing the revised EU Ambient Air Quality Directive; and accelerating pollutant emissions reductions through the further implementation of the Clean Air Strategy.
In relation to the circular economy, the Deposit and Return Scheme has collected over 2 billion containers since its introduction in February 2024, achieving an average return rate of 76%. Circular economy priorities for 2026 include:
• Transposition and implementation of EU circular economy legislation applying to textiles, packaging, batteries, plastic pellets and end of life vehicles.
• Supporting further progress in establishing Ireland’s Deposit and Return Scheme.
• Supporting the installation of a further 84 public drinking water fountains.
• Ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of producer responsibility obligations under EU and national law for the following material streams: packaging, batteries, waste electronic and electrical equipment, tyres, end-of-life vehicles, farm plastics, items containing plastics such as tobacco products and fishing gear.
