Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
89. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the key measures taken to enhance environmental protection since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53447/26]
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 were unannounced.
The Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 was signed into law on 12 March 2026. with commencement provisions underway. The Act facilitates:
• 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 in the area of industrial emission protection is the progression of the supporting secondary legislation and 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 during 2023. The Air Pollution (Amendment) Act was signed into law on 18 June 2026. This Act 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. Further priorities for 2026 in relation to air include: implementing the Air Pollution (Amendment) Act 2026 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 Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy 2026-2028: Accelerating Action, was launched in February of this year. This positions circularity as central to Ireland's economic competitiveness, environmental sustainability, and social wellbeing meaning moving Ireland from a linear "take–make–waste" model to a regenerative, closed-loop system where materials are kept in use for as long as possible. The Deposit and Return Scheme has now collected over 3 billion containers since its introduction in February 2024, achieving an average return rate of 76% in 2025.
The Roadmap on Circular Textiles 2026-2028 was launched this year and includes actions to address various issues affecting the textile value chain, separate collection of textiles and the establishment of an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme by April 2028.
The Local Government sector launched a nationwide public awareness campaign in April 2026, funded by my Department, to provide information to citizens on where and how to discard their used textiles responsibly and to maximise opportunities for reuse and recycling. A National Textile Map is now available on Mywaste.ie website to inform citizens on the nearest location to discard or donate their used textiles.
The Department recently opened a public consultation on Ireland’s National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap which will set out actions to help Ireland reduce food waste and meet new legally binding EU food waste reduction targets by 2030. Circular economy priorities for 2026 include: implementation and reporting on the Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy; 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; development and launch of a circularity roadmap for the construction and demolition sector; and continued funding for the remediation of legacy landfills as set out in the National Development Plan and the National Waste Management Plan 2024 -2030.
My Department also provides funding to support an Taisce’s Clean Coasts range of programmes (€635,000 in 2026), which engage over 2,500 community groups consisting of over 45,000 volunteers across the programmes.
