Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

157. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which emission reduction targets are being met or otherwise; if further steps are required to achieve such targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55624/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 commits Ireland to a legally binding target of a climate neutral economy no later than 2050, and a reduction in emissions of 51% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. Following the process set out in the Act, a carbon budget programme proposed by the Climate Change Advisory Council was adopted by the Oireachtas on 6 April 2022. On 28 July, the Government approved Sectoral Emission Ceilings for both the first and second carbon budget periods, (i.e. 2021-2025 and 2026-2030), with the exception the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector, which will be determined later. There is target for a 25% emissions reduction for our agriculture sector by 2030.

Climate Action Plan 2021 has outlined how emission reductions can be achieved in this sector in the coming years, which involves offering farmers the means to reduce carbon emissions at farm level by being more carbon efficient, while also diversifying towards less carbon intensive practices such as organic farming and the production of energy. These measures, and the extent to which progress is being made, will be reflected in the next Climate Action Plan, which is due to be published by the end of 2022. In the meantime, my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine continue to collaborate on reducing our carbon emissions, while also ensuring the security and sustainability of our food production. The challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our agriculture sector while ensuring our food security, is also a key opportunity for Ireland to become a world leader in long-term sustainable food production. I remain confident that our family farms will fully exploit the opportunities of this transition without compromising on sustainable food production

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

158. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the level of investment currently in hand and likely to improve the possibility of meeting emission targets; when each investment project is likely to come online, whether by alternative electricity generation methods, onshore or offshore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55625/22]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

159. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which emission reductions are likely to be achieved by way of alternative methods of electricity generation in the future; the way in which this is likely to impact on achieving the target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55626/22]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

160. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the degree to which alternative electricity-generation projects are advanced to the extent of making emission targets realisable in the short to medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55627/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 to 160, inclusive, together.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 significantly strengthens the legally binding framework for climate governance in Ireland, and the recently approved sectoral emission ceilings set out a clear pathway for meeting our carbon budgets and Ireland’s commitment to a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030.

These ceilings will be reflected in the next Climate Action Plan (CAP23), which is currently being developed and is due to be published by the end of 2022, building on the Climate Action Plan 2021 (CAP 21). CAP 21 set outs out a roadmap to deliver on Ireland's climate targets and for the electricity sector includes a suite of measures and actions to increase the share of electricity demand generated from renewable sources to up to 80%.

The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is one of the major Government policies to help deliver on this. The first RESS auction is expected to deliver circa 1,000 MW of new renewable generation, an approximate 15% increase in Ireland’s current renewable energy generation capacity by the end of 2023. Ireland is now at over 5 GW of onshore renewables, with approximately 700 MW expected to be connected before the end of this year, making 2022 a record year for new renewable generation. Ireland is third in the world for the share of electricity provided by onshore wind and this year the first large scale solar projects are now generating power.

The second RESS auction (RESS 2) was held this year and is expected to deliver an increase of nearly 20% in Ireland’s renewable energy generation by the end of 2025. At the end of October, my Department published a consultation on the design of the third RESS auction (RESS 3), which will take place next year. Further auction rounds are expected in future years and an updated RESS auction schedule will be published by the end of the year.

The Terms and Conditions on the first Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS 1) are due to be published later this month. This will be the first of three planned auctions this decade for the Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS).

Achieving climate targets through accelerating deployment of renewable energy sources will entail investment of tens of billions of euro, including in the installation and maintenance of generation assets, and associated infrastructure and services, as well as in the development of supply chains and port infrastructure. Significant investment in grid infrastructure is required to meet our renewables targets, with €4 billion capital investment allocated for EirGrid for the period 2021-2025.