Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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97. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has assessed the potential role of nuclear energy in Ireland's future energy mix; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49081/25]

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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We have seen an increase in electricity demand and rightly we are focusing on renewable energy. However, we have major challenges in meeting our 2030 and 2050 climate targets. Indeed, the climate action plan commits to 80% renewable energy by 2030 and net zero by 2050. Has the Minister of State's Department assessed the potential of nuclear energy in Ireland's future energy mix?

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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There seems to be an issue with my questions here.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State can speak off the cuff.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I may be required to do that. The Deputy has raised the important issue of-----

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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It is Question No. 97.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Yes. Nuclear fission-powered electricity generation plants are prohibited in Ireland. The use of nuclear fission for the generation of electricity in Ireland is statutorily prohibited under section 18(6) of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999. It is also of note that no action on nuclear power was included as part of the programme for Government in 2025, Securing Ireland's Future. The programme for Government does not, however, set out the commitment of this Government to achieving 80% of Ireland's electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030.

Our climate action plans recognise that enabling such a transformation of our energy systems will also require a range of supporting measures. This will involve the development of a balanced portfolio of technologies, including storage, to complement other measures such as demand-side response, network development and interconnection to ensure a safe and secure electricity system with increased levels of renewables.

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate that the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 prohibits nuclear power generation in this country and that the programme for Government focuses on renewable energy. I completely understand that, but the question relates to any type of consideration given to nuclear. We look at the likes of small modular reactors that create between 50 MW and 300 MW of energy. What I am saying here is that it is not a completely clean source of energy but it is a cleaner source of energy than fossil fuels. If we really want to achieve our climate targets, we need to look at all avenues available to the State. In particular, I look at the small modular reactors that can be built a lot more quickly. They are smaller and not as large in scale as some of the larger reactors we are aware of in the UK and the US. These SMRs are being developed in the UK, across Europe - in Poland, for example - and in the US and Canada, so we need to start modelling out what the benefits would be to the State if we were to go down the route of these potential SMRs.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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In support of my colleague Deputy Ó Cearúil, I think we need to explore nuclear as a potential option. We are all very supportive, for instance, of the Celtic interconnector between Ireland and France, where there is the possibility that we will be obtaining some of our energy from France. Last year, up to 68% of all of France's energy was generated by nuclear power. If we acquire energy from Scotland, similarly, some of that is going to be generated by nuclear.

The debate on nuclear has moved on. I totally understand that in the past we had safety concerns but as a cleaner energy source, while I accept there are issues around how we may dispose of some of the waste, it is something that needs to be considered. I back my colleague in that we really do need to have a debate on it.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I thank both Deputies. I know of their personal interest because both of them, on many occasions, have spoken to me about the necessity to look at that. The Government has taken a decision, and it is a decision that is probably based on historical context, going back to the early seventies when there were proposals at Carnsore to build a nuclear facility and there was a very significant public outcry. I do not think it has ever been revisited since. I take the Deputy's point regarding the newer technologies and small-scale nuclear reactors, which are still somewhat commercially available but there are only a couple of examples, as I understand it, around the world where they are deployed. Other countries have a march on it and are ahead of us on that, and they have built a wealth of experience and knowledge in that area. It is a bit like recognising what you are good at, and we have become good at renewables. We have become good at wind, we are getting really good at solar and we are now starting to embrace, on a wave of investment, offshore. That is where we should focus our attention.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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If you look at the capacity to generate so much electricity, particularly but not exclusively off our west coast, it far outweighs the issues around nuclear. I am also conscious-----

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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-----of how difficult it is, and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will appreciate this-----

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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This is buying you time, is it?

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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-----to get permission for a wind turbine. Failing to get permission for a wind turbine and introducing a small-scale nuclear reactor-----

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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You should conclude, Minister.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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-----might not be that much easier.

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I recognise the expertise this State has garnered in offshore and onshore wind energy and indeed solar. I was at the launch of the Timahoe North Solar Farm in Kildare only three weeks ago, an excellent facility that will provide energy to a significant number of people in Kildare and across the country. However, my argument here is that if we look to Belgium, for example, they recently extended the operation of two nuclear reactors. These will supply 15% of national electricity demand and help reduce reliance on gas imports. France approved the construction of six new large reactors in 2022, which are expected to meet 10% of electricity demand. The UK, for example, under its 2022 energy security strategy, plans to build eight large reactors and develop small modular reactors, the SMRs that I mentioned.

My argument here is not that we go full throttle into nuclear energy. All I am asking is that we model out the cost benefits of actually looking at and analysing whether nuclear is even an option and whether it is worth looking at and investigating properly. We need to ensure we have energy security moving forward and look at all options.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I have outlined the Government position but that is not to suggest that others who have an interest or some ideas on this should not interrogate the information and the ideas and look into the future as to what is available elsewhere. Of course, I am sure there are educational facilities and research projects that could be engaged by those who are like-minded. From the Government's perspective it is now about being really focused on what we need to do to deliver and not becoming distracted from that. Of course, debates will exist elsewhere. On a personal level, I am happy to look at and review any data that emerges there. I have the answer to the question. I was thrown a bit by Deputy Byrne appearing when the question said-----

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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We will deal with Question No. 95. I call Deputy Byrne.