Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
56. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will outline the investment targets to be achieved under the fourth payment of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), including those relating to renewable energy projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40718/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland 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. To date, Ireland has drawdown four of the instalments and €928 million of its RRF allocation.
This consists of the first payment of €324 million in July 2024, the second payment of €115 million in June 2025 and the third payment of €240 million in November 2025. The fourth payment request was formally submitted to the Commission on 10 February 2026 and covers a total of 8 milestones and targets and amounts to €249 million. The payment request was positively assessed and Ireland received payment of €249m on 21 May 2026 meaning that in total Ireland has received approximately 80% of its RRF allocation while achieving 80% of its milestones and targets.
The fourth payment request contained eight milestones and targets and included:
• Construction of an extended platform at Cork’s Kent station to enable future electrification in Cork commuter rail;
• Construction of a Government data centre;
• Using 5G technologies to drive a greener more Innovative Ireland through the installation of local compute nodes;
• e-Health projects that support the digitalisation of the Irish healthcare system;
• Solas’ Recovery Skills Response Programme (e.g. Green Skills Action Programme and the Skills to Compete Initiative) to support the reskilling and upskilling of workers;
• Technological Universities Transformation Fund to build capacity in education and training in technological universities;
• Upscaling the biomethane sector in Ireland; and
• Accelerating offshore wind energy through the adoption of the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan—the country's first strategic framework for sustainable offshore energy development.
The fifth and final payment request has a value of approximately €225 million and must be submitted by 30 September 2026.
