Written Answers Nos. 156-176
156. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the independent, reliable evidence which exists that US military associated aircraft landing at Shannon Airport are doing so in compliance with all national legislation and international legal obligations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27702/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for the regulation of foreign aircraft landing or overflying the State is shared between Departments. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has primary responsibility for the regulation of foreign military and state aircraft, while the Department of Transport leads on the regulation of civil aircraft. The Government is clear with all our international partners, including the United States, on the systems in place for both military and civil aircraft.
Under the terms of the relevant national legislation in this area, the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in intelligence gathering; and that the flight in question does not form part of a military exercise or operation.
Successive governments have made landing facilities available at a number of Irish airports to the United States and other foreign military and state aircraft. This permission is subject to the strict conditions of the diplomatic clearance procedures which are set out above. This policy is well known and fully understood by the United States and other international partners.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade publishes statistics in relation to overflights and landings of foreign military and state aircraft on the Department’s website on a regular basis.
There is a separate system in place for the regulation of civil aircraft and flights, which is managed by the Department of Transport. Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989, it is expressly prohibited for civil aircraft to carry munitions of war in Irish sovereign territory, without being granted an exemption to do so by the Minister for Transport. The process is informed by advice from my Department on international humanitarian law, Ireland’s international obligations and our wider arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation policy.
157. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the number of buildings that were built or part-funded with the assistance of the Government of Ireland in the State of Palestine that have been destroyed or removed; if he is aware of who has destroyed or stolen those buildings paid for by the Irish tax payer; and the response he has issued to the destruction and theft of this infrastructure. [27713/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra158. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the value of the infrastructure that has been built with the assistance of the Government of Ireland in the West Bank and Gaza; and the value of the infrastructure that has been destroyed or stolen in the State of Palestine in the past ten years, by year, in tabular form. [27714/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together.
The Government is seriously concerned at the level of damage to civilian infrastructure in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The current assessment is that the cost of reconstruction in Gaza will be in the region of $70 billion. The situation in the West Bank has also deteriorated sharply, with the expansion of Israeli control in many areas and increased attacks and occupations of Palestinian property by illegal settlers. These Israeli actions clearly contravene international law. Ireland has joined 84 other UN members to jointly condemn recent Israeli Security Cabinet decisions to expand Israeli control over the West Bank, which contravene international law.
Our support for public infrastructure in Palestine is almost exclusively in partnership with other donors. This includes support to the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Education, the West Bank Protection Consortium, and core funding to UNRWA. As such, it is not feasible to tabulate all our contributions to specific infrastructure covered by this assistance.
Ireland contributes up to €3 million annually through a joint donor scheme to the Palestinian Authority's Department of Education, providing €26.3 million since 2015. This includes support to school buildings in the West Bank. Reports indicate that 74 schools in the West Bank were damaged in 2025 and 78 schools placed under demolition orders.
The Government has provided €68 million in core funding to UNRWA since 2023, and €127 million since 2015. In January 2026, Israeli forces demolished the UNRWA headquarters compound in East Jerusalem, and 312 of UNRWA's facilities have been damaged or destroyed in Gaza. Ireland made a submission to the ICJ 2025 advisory opinion on Israel’s actions in Gaza, including in relation to UNRWA facilitates.
Ireland supported the Palestinian Water Authority to develop the €45 million North Gaza Emergency Sewage Treatment plant, committing €8 million and providing €6.8 million by 2022. Construction was well advanced by October 2023. Its current condition is not known. The balance of our funding is being used to support emergency water system repairs in Gaza.
Since 2019, Ireland has provided €2.2 million to the West Bank Protection Consortium to support prevention of forced displacement. In 2025, donor-funded infrastructure worth just under €1 million was affected by demolition, confiscation, settler violence, or forced abandonment. The equivalent figure for damage in 2024 was just under €550,000. In February 2026, Ireland and our Consortium partners sought, but have not so far received, compensation of €1.7 million from Israeli authorities in respect of confiscated or demolished assets since 2015.
Ireland also funds micro solar and water systems infrastructure in the West Bank with an overall investment of over €500,000 since 2015. In July 2025, our partner, Comet-ME reported that damage to energy and water components funded by Ireland, as a result of violent settler activity and demolitions, amounted to some €23,000 since October 2023.
The Government will continue to work for an end to demolitions and compensation for damage to infrastructure, and for full respect for International Humanitarian Law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
159. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to confirm that serious consideration will be given to a group's application (details supplied) for funding under the Communicating Europe Initiative; when decisions on funding are likely to be made under this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27805/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Communicating Europe Initiative (CEI) is a scheme administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide Government funding to voluntary organisations, educational bodies and civil society groups, for projects intended to deepen public awareness of the role that the European Union plays in our daily lives. The initiative also supports the work of local authorities in bringing EU issues closer to citizens at community level, recognising the important role they play in connecting European policy with the everyday concerns of people across the country. The initiative reflects the Government’s commitment to ensuring that Irish citizens are informed about and engaged with the work of the EU and Ireland’s role within it.
This year’s CEI was publicly launched on 24 February 2026, the application closing date, which was extended, was 31 March. The budget allocation for CEI 2026 is €775,000, an increase from €400,000 in 2025.
Applications received under the current funding round are assessed through an established evaluation process. This process considers a range of criteria, including the quality and reach of proposed activities, the potential to engage communities, and their alignment with the overall objectives of the initiative. All applications received are given careful and equal consideration on their individual merits in the context of a competitive grant round.
As the evaluation of applications is currently ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment on any individual application at this time. Decisions on the current round of funding will be communicated to applicants in due course, once the assessment process has concluded.
160. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there has been any discussion at recent EU Foreign Affairs Councils regarding the persecution of Christians around the world; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27878/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe protection and promotion of human rights, including the freedom of religion or belief, is a core tenet of Ireland's foreign policy. The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, (more commonly referred to as freedom of religion or belief) is a fundamental freedom, enshrined in Article 18 of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, including instances when Christians face persecution for exercising the right to practice their faith.
Ireland consistently raises issues related to freedom of religion or belief at the United Nations, including at the UN Human Rights Council and during the Universal Periodic Review process, which acts as a peer review of the human rights situation in all UN Member States. Most recently, at the 61st session of the Human Rights Council in March 2026, Ireland restated our concern for the persecution of people, including of Christians, on the basis of their religion.
Within the EU, Ireland works with partners to address the persecution of religious communities. The current EU Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024, which is now extended to 2027, includes an express reference to stepping up action to combat discrimination on any ground, including religion or belief. During our EU Presidency, Ireland will work to further strengthen the EU’s efforts in this area.
In January of this year the Council of the European Union approved the EU’s priorities in United Nations Human Rights Fora which, included a call upon States to uphold freedom of religion or belief, as enshrined in article 10 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. I support this call and am ready to continue to show Ireland’s unwavering support for these fundamental rights, both nationally and at multilateral fora.
I welcome the recent appointment by the European Commission of Mairead McGuinness as the new EU Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) outside the EU. As Special Envoy, she will work closely with the European Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS), EU Member States, local governments and organisations, religious groups, and civil society. Her role includes raising awareness about discrimination, protecting persecuted minorities through education and dialogue, and supporting efforts to prevent radicalisation and religious extremism. She will also promote respect for religious diversity and tolerance.
Furthermore, Ireland is a member of the International Contact Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief (ICG), which was established in 2015. The purpose of the group is to encourage and deepen coordination between countries committed to advancing religious freedom. Since joining the ICG, Ireland has participated in bi-annual meetings to discuss ways in which the ICG can combine efforts in the promotion of freedom of religion or belief for all.
Ireland is committed to advancing the freedom of religion or belief in our multilateral and bilateral engagements.
161. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he or his officials have met with the CRU in the past six weeks to discuss price gouging with regard to energy prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27418/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within an EU regulatory regime wherein these markets are commercial and liberalised. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) ended its regulation of retail prices in the electricity market in 2011, and in the gas market in 2014. Price setting by electricity suppliers is, therefore, a commercial matter for the companies concerned.
Retail prices are influenced by several factors, including wholesale energy prices, system operation costs and supplier hedging. The latest data from Eurostat shows that, in nominal terms, Ireland ranked fifth for electricity prices and eighth for household gas prices among European countries in the first half of 2025. When adjusting for purchasing power parity, Ireland is mid-table in terms of energy affordability with the twelfth highest electricity and gas prices among European countries.
In a report published last October, the International Energy Agency (IEA) observed that Irish retail prices had not adjusted at a comparable pace to the decline in wholesale prices, with the energy component of retail prices remaining up to three times that of wholesale prices. While the CRU has found no evidence of market failure or windfall profits in the retail sector in its market monitoring role, the IEA findings underline the importance of progressing the Programme for Government commitment to “commission an independent review into the speed and level of passthrough from wholesale prices to retail prices,”.
As Minister, I have written to CRU to request that they commence this independent review, building on the work of previous CRU investigations by reviewing the competitiveness of Irish retail energy markets, examining supplier costs, including hedging and pricing practices, and providing comparative price analysis with other EU Member States. It will also assess whether measures are warranted to enhance market responsiveness to wholesale price changes, and make recommendations to ensure that the benefits of lower wholesale prices are felt by consumers.
Importantly, the CRU is also engaging with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in relation to the review.
My officials have engaged with the CRU in the last six weeks to emphasise the importance of this matter and I understand that work on the project is ongoing. This report will also inform the work of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce.
162. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether he intends on proceeding with his plans to develop a floating LNG terminal given the recent fossil fuel crisis during which the price of LNG soared by as much as 60%; whether he will instead pivot towards rapidly scaling up our renewable generation and storage capacity to decarbonise our energy sector and protect Irish households and businesses from fuel price shocks going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27885/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government 2025 sets out the commitment to achieving 80% of Ireland’s electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030, including the development of additional electricity interconnection and storage. The delivery of a gas reserve is critical to Ireland’s energy security as we continue to transition to indigenous, clean renewable energy.
The Government position on the need for a State-operated Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve, in the form of a floating storage and regassification unit (FSRU) that will store LNG, has been very clear. The liquified natural gas (LNG) will be held in reserve for use in the event of a significant disruption to gas supplies and the FSRU will be divested when no longer required to secure Ireland’s energy systems. The National Risk Assessment has consistently identified the risk of damage to Ireland’s subsea gas interconnectors as being a major risk. Accordingly, this is a priority project of a strategic nature required to mitigate the major consequences for our society and our economy that would arise from the realisation of this risk.
In 2025, my Department published an updated analysis of security of energy supply in Ireland beyond 2030, which considered the ability of increased interconnection and battery storage to secure Ireland's energy system. This analysis informed the Government's decision to proceed with a Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve as the best option to secure Ireland's energy system.
This Government remains committed to taking decisive action to radically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and has greatly boosted the share of renewables in our increasingly electrified energy system, with over 8 gigawatts of renewable electricity capacity now operational and almost 50% of electricity coming from renewable sources in February this year.
163. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will outline the key measures in the new Economy Strategy 2026-2028: Accelerating Action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27697/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe second Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy 2026-2028 was published on the 24 February this year and represents the next phase of Ireland’s transition towards a resource-efficient, innovation-driven, and low-carbon economy. It replaces and builds upon the first Circular Economy Strategy (2021–2023) and is prepared under section 7 of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022, giving it statutory authority.
The strategy sets actions and targets across key priority sectors to deliver environmental and economic benefits, including:
• Construction – Publication of a Circularity Roadmap for the Construction Sector in 2026 and agreement on a sectoral compact partnership between the Government and Construction Industry to accelerate circular practices.
• Bioeconomy (including agriculture) – Publication of a new National Bioeconomy Strategy and Food Waste Prevention Roadmap by 2026 to support sustainable biomass use and cut food waste by 50% by 2030.
• Retail – Greater support for repair, re-use and waste prevention, including Bring-Your-Own container options in food service from 2027.
• Packaging – Implementation of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, aiming for a 5% packaging waste reduction by 2030 and 90% plastic bottle collection by 2029.
• Textiles – Launch of a National Policy Statement and Roadmap on Circular Textiles in 2026, with nationwide full and enhanced separate textile collection by 2030.
• Electronics – Expansion of repair and remanufacturing, transposition of the Right to Repair Directive, and support for Ireland’s repair and reuse network.
The Strategy is available at the following link: []www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/publications/whole-of-government-circular-economy-strategy-2026-2028-accelerating-action/.
164. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will provide the most up-to-date estimate of the total financial liability the State faces between now and 2030 for failing to meet EU greenhouse gas emissions targets under the Effort Sharing Regulation; if he will specify from which existing departmental budgets or capital projects these multi-billion euro compliance costs will be drawn; his views on the immorality of potentially diverting billions of euros away from frontline services like health and housing to pay for administrative penalties, while simultaneously continuing to hike carbon taxes on struggling families and farmers who have no viable alternatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27724/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the revised Effort Sharing Regulations (ESR), Ireland’s target to reduce emissions is set at 42% compared to 2005 levels by 2030. This Regulation covers those sectors of the economy that fall outside the scope of the current EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) including transport, buildings, agriculture, light industry and waste.
Under the existing compliance arrangements, Member States can meet their targets through direct emissions reductions, as well as through additional compliance options provided for in the framework. This includes the purchase of allowances from other Member States who have overperformed on their targets. The framework does not provide for the imposition of direct fines or penalties. This approach is intended to enable flexibility among Member States to achieve targets as efficiently as possible. Estimating these costs requires working with significant data limitations as, at this point, there is no established cost for purchase of allowances from other Member States.
Government's focus is on achieving the necessary emissions reductions in Ireland by continuing to invest in transformational measures that will decarbonise our economy. For example, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) will oversee investment of up to €18 billion over the five-year period to 2030 in the energy network.
In line with the National Climate Objective, the Government is committed to a just transition to a climate neutral economy by no later than 2050. National climate policy is also founded on the principle of a just transition to a climate neutral economy which endeavours, in so far as is practicable, to maximise employment opportunities, and to support people, including those in rural communities and the agriculture sector, that may be negatively affected by the transition.
A just transition builds on the principles of evidence-based approaches, ensuring that people are equipped with the right skills to benefit from the net zero economy, cost-sharing and equity, and social dialogue with impacted people and communities.
Questions in relation to the setting of the carbon tax should be directed to the Minister for Finance.
165. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the strategy for the recycling of wind turbines in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27743/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile relatively few wind turbines have been decommissioned to date, an increase is expected in the coming years as early installations reach the end of their operational life. At present, decommissioning requirements are addressed through site-specific planning conditions.
Wind turbines are currently outside the scope of Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE Directive) which provides the framework for the recycling and recovery of material from electronic waste, including the setting of targets to be achieved by Member States. However, it is recognised that a more tailored approach to the management of end-of-life renewable energy technologies is required.
In this context, the WEEE Directive is being reviewed by the European Commission and a legislative proposal, to form part of the forthcoming EU Circular Economy Act, is expected to be published in Q4 this year. I understand this review is expected to consider extending the scope of the WEEE Directive to include wind turbines, with the aim of improving recycling rates and optimising the recovery of strategically and critically important raw materials. The Department will engage proactively to progress this legislative initiative.
In addition, I have provided funding under the Circular Economy Innovation Grants Scheme to support development of innovative approaches to decommissioned wind turbine blades, repurposing them into durable community infrastructure, displacing high-carbon raw materials like steel and concrete and demonstrating the potential of circular best practice.
166. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update on the works to increase capacity of the national grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27744/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraPlanning, developing, safely operating and maintaining the electricity system are functions which are assigned to the respective Distribution and Transmission System Operators and for which they are accountable to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). EirGrid, as Transmission System Operator, have responsibility for the development of the Transmission Network and ESB Networks, as Distribution System Operator, have responsibility for the development of the Distribution Network.
As set out in the Programme for Government ensuring that the necessary investment is made in the electricity grid is a priority for Government.
The CRU Price Review 6 (PR6) decision will see up to €18.9 billion invested in our electricity system over the coming 5 years, the largest ever electricity grid investment. This is a landmark investment to upgrade Ireland’s existing electricity infrastructure and deliver critical new infrastructure to meet future demand.
PR6 will unlock additional electricity capacity, through an ambitious transmission and distribution capital programme, including 29 transmission priority projects and 31 distribution priority projects.
Government has established numerous taskforces focused on accelerating delivery of the electricity grid and generation assets. Cross Government work is ongoing to accelerate critical infrastructure including implementation of the Accelerating Infrastructure Action Plan and the 30, time bound, measures to remove barriers to infrastructure delivery.
ESB Networks, EirGrid and CRU can be contacted directly in relation to specific queries on the matter raised at oireachtas@esb.ie, oireachtas@eirgrid.com and oireachtas@cru.ie.
167. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the specific methods and departmental protocols used to measure and verify data centre water consumption from both public and private sources across relevant catchments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27782/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra168. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the legislative requirements or Departmental regulations that mandate data centre operators to report their water consumption from either private wells or the national supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27783/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together.
Article 12 of the Energy Efficiency Directive 2023/1791 (‘EED’) and its delegated Regulation 2024/1364 provides for an obligation for owners and operators of certain sized data centres to monitor and make publicly available, subject to Union and national law protecting trade and business secrets and confidentiality, information on key metrics on their energy and sustainability performance. The required indicators relate to energy consumption, cooling, waste heat utilisation, water usage and renewable energy use, among others.
As part of the implementation of the EED, data centres in Ireland are reporting this information to a confidential EU database on data centres established and operated by the European Commission. Reporting is ongoing and the Commission is responsible for making it publicly available in an aggregated manner in-line with the delegated regulation. This information is being used to establish an EU wide rating scheme to measure and promote efficiencies in the energy and sustainability performance of data centres. The Commission has recently opened a public consultation on its draft legislation to give effect to this rating scheme.
More generally, water usage management and conservation across commercial and industrial (non-domestic) sectors, including data centres, is an operational matter under the remit of Uisce Éireann. Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operations at national, regional and local levels. Uisce Éireann has a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives that can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone 0818 578 578.
169. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of operational data centres using 'dry cooling' methods; the recorded number of days annually that each such facility reverted to water-based cooling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27786/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra170. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department maintains a national database or specific inventory of the quantity of waste heat currently recovered from data centres in Ireland; if not, the specific scientific or empirical data used to inform the Large Energy User Action Plan (LEAP) published in January 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27791/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 170 together.
Article 12 of the Energy Efficiency Directive 2023/1791 (‘EED’) and its delegated Regulation 2024/1364 provides for an obligation for owners and operators of certain sized data centres to monitor and make publicly available, subject to Union and national law protecting trade and business secrets and confidentiality, information on key metrics on their energy and sustainability performance. The required indicators relate to energy consumption, cooling, waste heat utilisation and renewable energy use, among others.
As part of the implementation of the EED, data centres in Ireland are reporting this information to a confidential EU database on data centres established and operated by the European Commission. Reporting is ongoing and the Commission is responsible for making it publicly available in an aggregated manner in line with the delegated regulation. This information is being used to establish an EU wide rating scheme to measure and promote efficiencies in the energy and sustainability performance of data centres. The Commission has recently opened a public consultation on its draft legislation to give effect to this rating scheme.
The overarching objective of the Large Energy User Action Plan (LEAP) is to enable Ireland to attract next generation investment in those energy intensive sectors associated with the greatest future strategic economic and regional employment opportunities. It is important to note that this may include energy intensive industries and sectors such as semiconductors, very large manufacturers and pharmaceuticals, in addition to the development of critical digital infrastructure such as data centres.
The approach set out in LEAP will ensure the alignment of Ireland’s industrial policy with other strategic Government priorities, including housing, transport and water, as well as the electrification of the wider Irish economy and society. It will facilitate further alignment of future energy-intensive industrial development with robust energy security and affordability for Irish households and businesses, including through future assessment on the appropriate allocation of costs associated with infrastructure delivery.
The implementation of LEAP will take place through the delivery of 17 key enabling actions, including through alignment with recommendations within a report published by the International Energy Agency in December 2025 - ‘Powering Ireland’s Energy Future’. A key pillar of LEAP will be to provide a framework for the establishment of green energy parks, in which to co-locate the most energy-intensive large energy user sectors with the supply of renewables and other enabling technologies. This concept of industrial parks primarily powered by green energy was originally set out in ‘Powering Prosperity – Ireland’s Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy’, published by Government in March 2023. The LEAP approach was further informed by an independent report commissioned by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) 'An Economic Assessment of Green Energy Park Concepts', which was published alongside LEAP in January 2026, and available on the DETE website at: enterprise.gov.ie/en/publications/leap.html.
171. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of wind farms and their installed capacity supported by the Government’s renewable electricity feed-in tariff scheme and the alternative energy requirement support scheme in each of the years from 2000 to 2025, in tabular form. [27851/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra172. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of wind farms and their installed capacity which, having reached the end of their contracts, exited the Government’s renewable electricity feed-in-tariff scheme and the alternative energy requirement support scheme in each of the years from 2000 to 2025, in tabular form. [27852/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together.
Under the Alternative Energy Requirement (AER) scheme, support was provided under a 15-year power purchase agreement, with support under the last scheme beginning in 2006. Support for the last remaining AER project finished in December 2021. The total number of Wind Farm projects that were supported under AER and their total capacity, given in MW is below.
|
Number of Wind Farms in AER |
Maximum Capacity in AER, MW |
|
26 |
194 |
Support under the first Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff (REFIT) scheme began in 2008 with the maximum length of support for a project being 15 years.
Under the REFIT 2 and 3 schemes support is also provided for 15 years, with support for the last REFIT project due to cease in December 2032.
The table attached details the number of wind farm projects supported under the REFIT schemes and their capacity, in MW, for every year from 2008 to 2025.
Further information on individual projects supported by REFIT is listed on an annual basis in the Public Service Obligation (PSO) Statutory Instrument, available at the following link: www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/ResultsTitle.html?q=Electricity+Regulation+Act+1999+(Public+Service+Obligations).
For further information on renewable electricity generation projects supported under PSO Levy, I refer the Deputy to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities which has responsibility for the administration of the PSO. They may be contacted at oireachtas@cru.ie.
174. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the measures being taken to ensure the continuity and security of electricity supply given the continued reliance on fossil fuels for more than half of electricity generation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27872/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government's 'Energy Security in Ireland to 2030' strategy set out a clear vision to move away from fossil fuels to an electricity-led energy system. Delivery of our ambitious renewable and electrification targets set out in the Climate Action Plan will be key in this regard.
Notwithstanding power generation decarbonisation objectives and increasing renewable electricity targets, the variable nature of some renewable technologies currently requires that dispatchable, typically fossil fuel, generation remains crucial for ensuring security of supply. The Government has set a target of having at least 2GW of new, flexible, gas-fired generation by 2030 in our Climate Action Plans to ensure secure generation of electricity at time of low renewable output and/or high demand. This allows for the integration of a large volume of wind and solar electricity projects that displace the need to run fossil fuel plants for baseload, without compromising security of supply.
In addition, increasing amounts of batteries, long duration storage, interconnector capacity and demand side response have also been procured in recent capacity market auctions which will lessen Ireland's dependence on fossil fuel imports in the coming years.
At this time, Ireland’s gas supply is secure, with no disruption expected in the short-term. In addition, the Government is developing a strategic emergency gas reserve to be used in the event of a disruption. Approximately 20% of Ireland’s gas is supplied domestically from the Corrib natural gas field, and we also have small volumes of indigenous biomethane being injected into the national gas network. The balance comes via Ireland’s two interconnectors with the UK. The UK’s gas supply is highly diversified with the majority coming from the UK Continental Shelf via the North Sea and Norway. Remaining gas is sourced from international markets via Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), UK gas storage and two interconnectors to the Continent.
In December 2025, the International Energy Agency (IEA) published an independent expert assessment of Ireland’s energy system with a specific focus on the role of the power sector to 2035 ‘Powering Ireland’s Energy Future.’ The IEA highlighted Ireland’s role as a global leader in integrating renewable energy, particularly wind, into our energy system, as electricity demand continues to increase. The report demonstrates that as the renewable portfolio expands, the capacity factors, or the amount of time gas fired generation will be required to run, will reduce dramatically.
175. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the National Oil Reserves Agency plans to increase stock levels within Ireland’s strategic oil reserves in the event of a worsening international energy crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27873/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) has operational responsibility for the day-to-day management of the State’s Strategic Oil Reserve of 85 days of oil stocks. NORA stores petrol, diesel and kerosene, and does not maintain physical stocks of biofuels, fuel oil or crude oil. NORA’s oil is stored in various port locations throughout the island of Ireland, with the balance held in a small number of EU Member States. The locations at which NORA’s oil is stored are monitored under tight security in accordance with normal industry standards.
As the Deputy may be aware, member countries of the IEA have agreed to initiate an action to release Strategic Oil Reserves to address the supply issues that are emerging on foot of the conflict in the Middle East. Ireland's contribution to an IEA 400-million-barrel release is approximately 1.6 million barrels. That level of contribution equates to approximately 10.5 days of supply.
NORA has no plans to increase its stock levels at this point in time. To do so would undermine the recent IEA co-ordinated stock release. This situation will be kept under review, as appropriate.
176. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he remains committed to the provisions of the Climate Acts given recent attempts by the Government to have the Acts disapplied across numerous Government Bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27881/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government remains fully committed to the provisions of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (as amended) and to achieving our national climate targets.
It is acknowledged that the Critical Infrastructure Bill provides for the disapplication of Section 15 of the Act in very limited circumstances for programmes and projects designated as critical infrastructure. The Bill is a central pillar of the Government’s Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan and represents a significant step forward in strengthening delivery across key sectors. Accelerated delivery of infrastructure does not disapply our climate commitments or our national level targets, but recognises an urgent need for the completion of major infrastructure projects in the State. The type of projects, including critical electricity infrastructure and public transport projects, are themselves critically required to support climate, environment and other social and economic objectives. Many of the projects supported under these provisions are central to delivering on our climate ambitions, including key electricity infrastructure and public transport projects.
Climate impact will still be one of the influencing factors when decisions are made, and will continue to be accounted for through decision-making processes, particularly through the planning system where climate impact is already woven into the policy hierarchy, as confirmed recently by the Supreme Court. The disapplication of Section 15 does not remove the requirement on planning bodies to take account of relevant climate policies and objectives.
Climate impact and considerations remain central to the ambition of this Government, although they must be balanced against other critical factors like housing and energy security when it comes to these projects of national importance. I will continue to work across Government to ensure climate impacts of projects are well-evidenced and incorporated into proposals at the appropriate time.
