Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the number of questions he has put forward. In terms of the reduction, we have approximately 9.6% of a reduction in industry on 2018 levels. If the cement industry is excluded, it is 11.5%. Obviously, in the commercial built environment, it is 15.7% since 2018 and if the cement sector is taken out, it is a reduction of an additional 7%. There is significant progress but I am very aware of the challenge ahead.

The €300 million decarbonisation scheme that has been embraced by iconic companies such as Diageo, which is 264 years old, shows how it can go on a trajectory to being carbon neutral. Across those sectors, the sharing of that information will be very important for other companies to benefit through that competitive process Enterprise Ireland is running. Looking at the figures of those that have utilised funding already, for 2025 we are up to €38 million. It was €28 million in 2024. There is a steady increase in terms of that trajectory, which will be very important. That grant aid will need to be increased in future years, as well as the learning we have.

On food, drinks and dairy, there are big challenges as in the cement sector. We had a round table and will have to work with procurement policy. Also, the processing of heat is very challenging for that sector. They are doing a lot of research and development and Enterprise Ireland is leading, working with and supporting them to do just that.

Sectoral targets in terms of rather than asking the sectors to lead, having a Government strategy to do so, is a very interesting point. That will be something for party manifestos at this juncture. It is not something I will be able to move on but it is a very substantial point. I note the various sectors in which there are challenges. I will point out how in terms of how we move forward with industrial heat our roadmap is very clearly set out. We have moved forward with procurement by flagging to the cement sector how much it needs to change in the months and years ahead. I hope we will be also able to take a number of measures before the Government's work is complete. That will be very important.