Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 September 2026
215. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the publication of the communications strategy as part of the National Biomethane Strategy. [68520/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment has committed to the ambitious delivery of indigenously produced biomethane by 2030. To achieve this, my Department, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, published the National Biomethane Strategy in May 2024.
The Biomethane Implementation Group has been established to oversee implementation of the National Biomethane Strategy and the associated delivery of the 25 key strategic actions to ensure the necessary infrastructure and supports are in place to underpin development of an indigenous biomethane industry of scale.
Chaired by my Department, with close support from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Group reports directly to the Heat and Built Environment Taskforce on on-going progress and has expertise in the areas of infrastructure; sustainability; industry; and economics. Membership of the Group includes key Government Departments and Agencies, and sectoral representatives.
Although anaerobic digestion (AD) is a very well-established technology in Europe with over 20,000 plants in operation, it is a relatively new and unknown technology in Ireland. As such, my Department is committed to offering information and support to address concerns, foster the sharing of information, and promote transparency around AD developments and the part they play in decarbonisation.
The online information hub website is now live and will be continuously updated and expanded with relevant information, including the AD planning support document currently under development to aid Local Authorities when making planning decisions and to provide information to the public. It is available at the following link on Gov.ie Biomethane Policy Page https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/policy-information/biomethane/
