Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2026
34. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the progress made to date on implementing the actions set out in the National Hydrogen Strategy and the subsequent National Hydrogen Programme Implementation Plan (2025), including regulatory development, market design and infrastructure planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38321/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra35. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the status of the development of regulatory, safety and certification frameworks required to facilitate the production, storage, transport and use of renewable hydrogen, given expert findings that delays in these frameworks are creating market uncertainty; and if additional resources will be allocated to accelerate this work. [38322/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together.
The National Hydrogen Programme Taskforce is working across Government Departments and State agencies, engaging with key stakeholders, to deliver the actions and wider ambitions set out in the National Hydrogen Strategy. The Taskforce is making good progress on a number of key work strands, with the current focus on developing the necessary legislative and regulatory frameworks for hydrogen, developing a fund for hydrogen demonstration projects, and further building on key research to develop a solid evidence base for policymaking.
The Taskforce will publish an update for stakeholders later this year which will include progress made on all of the actions under the multi-year work programme set out in the Implementation Plan. In the meantime, I can provide an overview of progress being made on the actions to develop the legislative and regulatory frameworks needed to underpin the hydrogen sector in Ireland.
• Under Action 16, the Taskforce is supporting the transposition of the EU Hydrogen & Decarbonised Gas Market Package. This will put in place legislation to appoint the CRU as the national regulatory authority for hydrogen, enable the designation and certification of a hydrogen network operator, and establish market frameworks similar to what exists for natural gas today.
• Under Action 10, a comprehensive gap analysis, prepared for my Department by KPMG, has identified a number of legislative changes necessary to facilitate the development and operation of geological hydrogen storage facilities in Ireland. The recommendations of this report will be developed further by the Taskforce, with a view to developing the general scheme of a bill to enact the necessary legislative changes.
• Under Action 15, my Department has appointed Arup to assist the Taskforce in developing a hydrogen safety roadmap. This will map out the existing safety regimes and standards that are applicable to hydrogen and identify any gaps that will need to be addressed as the hydrogen sector grows.
