Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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189. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 231 of 24 March 2021, when the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32731/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The report referred to by the Deputy has been published on my Department’s website, and can be found at the following link: gov.ie - Potential extensions of the Natural Gas Network in Ireland (www.gov.ie). This study was undertaken in the context of the national climate and energy policies that were in place in 2018. In the period since, there has been significant development of national policy including the 2020 Programme for Government commitments to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030 (a 51% reduction over the decade) and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. In this context, I consider the 2018 report to be of limited, if any, relevance to current policy development. Furthermore, I can confirm that extending the natural gas network will not be included in the upcoming Climate Action Plan as a means of decarbonisation.