Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat a Chathaoirligh agus go raibh maith agaibh arís as an gcuireadh bheith anseo os comhair an choiste tráthnóna inniu. I thank the Chair for the invitation to be here again in front of the committee. I thank the committee for the opportunity to present the 2025 Revised Estimates for programmes A and B and elements of programme C for the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.

The 2025 Estimates in respect of the programme for marine spatial planning and the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, were considered yesterday by the Select Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs. The Estimates are required due to the recent transfer of the communications and cybersecurity functions from my Department to the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, and the Department of justice. The total gross Estimate for the Department this year is €979 million, or €973.2 million net. This amount comprises just under €211 million in current funding and just over €768 million in capital funding. The 2025 Estimate represents a 45% decrease over last year’s allocation. However, when taking into account the €520 million allocation in 2024 for the electricity credit scheme and the transfer of the communications functions, the 2025 Estimate represents a 21% increase over last year’s Estimate for the Department. This significant increase in funding for this year demonstrates this Government’s continued commitment to achieving a climate-neutral Ireland, powered by clean energy, where our environment, society and economy thrive.

I will now outline some key priorities across the climate action and environment leadership, energy transformation and circular economy programme areas. On programme A, climate action and environment leadership, more than €145 million has been allocated to this programme, which includes licensing and enforcement; monitoring, analysis and reporting on the environment; research and development; and implementation of climate action measures. The programme provides for over €48.5 million to the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. This is an increase of over €1.9 million, or 4%, in operational and capital funding for the agency to deliver its important functions to protect our environment. The allocation includes funding for staffing resources across a number of policy areas, including the circular economy, climate change, licensing and energy security. A sum of €17.1 million is allocated for environmental and climate research, which includes €12.1 million for the EPA's research activities in line with its published research strategy. In addition, funding of €4 million is allocated for the climate action and modelling group to continue its work in providing technical support for wider climate and environment policy development. Funding is also included for phase 2 of the land use review, to provide an evidence base to determine the environmental, ecological and economic characteristics of land types across Ireland. Over €27.7 million is allocated to our international climate commitments, towards Ireland’s goal to more than double its annual funding for developing countries to tackle climate change to €225 million. More than €47.7 million is allocated under the EU just transition fund programme, of which €22.4 million is allocated for initiatives administered by my Department and €25.3 million is allocated to other Departments involved in the programme. This will result in up to €169 million of investment in the midlands region over the coming years. Nearly €12.3 million is being provided for climate initiatives, which include the climate action regional offices, national dialogue on climate action and a local authority climate action training programme.

Over €704 million has been allocated for the energy transformation programme, which provides support to help Ireland achieve a high-renewable, low-carbon system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The programme aims to ensure continued, secure and reliable energy supplies necessary to support our economy and society on the pathway to net zero emissions. Just under €32.3 million is being provided to cover the operational costs of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, which is an increase of 7% on last year's allocation. This includes funding for additional staff to enable it to deliver on the wide range of programmes and grant schemes it administers. A record sum of €566.8 million capital funding is allocated to the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade and support schemes, including the solar PV scheme, and delivery of the national retrofit plan. Of this sum, €469 million is carbon tax receipts, which is €89 million more than the previous year. This is further supplemented by an increased allocation from the European Regional Development Fund, ERDF, which will bring the SEAI warmer homes scheme budget to a record €280 million.

Nearly €43.4 million is provided for other energy efficiency programmes, including supports for business and the public sector. This amount includes €30 million under the RePowerEU plan, which is funded from the EU's recovery and resilience facility. This €30 million will be invested in a HSE pilot energy and decarbonisation pathfinder project, which includes the deep retrofit of five HSE sites.

This investment will be critical in terms of providing learning and experience to the HSE, which has a vast national estate portfolio. These measures, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, are aimed at improving energy efficiency, increasing the use of renewable energy and developing a retrofit policy and measures across the wider public service.

Some €5.8 million continues to be provided for measures to lay the groundwork for Ireland to deliver on its national and legally binding renewable energy targets and maximising the potential of our offshore renewable energy resources. Just under €29 million is provided for energy research programmes, including applied energy research and demonstration programmes and projects. This investment in innovative energy research projects is crucial in helping Ireland to transition to a clean and secure energy future for us all.

Over €129.2 million is allocated to programme C, which relates to circular economy development, to tackle environmental damage, manage waste, safeguard our natural resources and support the move to a circular economy. Some €14.8 million is provided for Geological Survey Ireland services for geoscience projects, research and activities, including improved groundwater and drinking water supply, the supply of critical raw materials, tackling coastal vulnerability and geothermal energy development. Over €34.3 million is allocated to protect our environment through waste management initiatives and enforcement activities by local authorities. This includes €18.5 million for the remediation of environmentally degraded landfill sites.

Nearly €39.5 million is provided for the conservation, management and regulation of Ireland's inland fisheries resource. Over €4 million of this allocation is ring-fenced for the Loughs Agency, a North-South, all-Ireland body. Over €2.1 million is provided for foreshore to support the regulation of the Irish foreshore as part of the public estate through the assessment and management of the consent process under the Foreshore Act 1933.

Some €10.2 million, an increase of 31%, is provided for the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, the regulator for the maritime area. This funding will support the agency to deliver on its remit through assessing marine area consent, MAC, applications for the maritime area, granting marine licensing for specified activities, conducting investigations and prosecutions, and enforcing MACs, licences and offshore development consents. These subheads were considered by the Select Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs on 15 July, which was yesterday. I already made reference to that point.

Appropriations-in-aid, which are income receipts of the Department other than from the Exchequer, are estimated at just under €5.9 million in 2025. These receipts are mainly composed of mining income, additional superannuation contributions payable by public servants and miscellaneous income.

I am happy to take questions relating to the Revised Estimates for programmes A to C.