Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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170. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to advance planning guidelines for biogas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6352/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Government has committed to deliver up to 5.7 TWh of indigenously produced biomethane by 2030. In response to this ambitious target, my Department, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, published the National Biomethane Strategy in May 2024. The Biomethane Strategy sets out a pathway to achieving Ireland’s biomethane production target; addresses the challenges that need to be overcome; and outlines the necessary supports and policy enablers needed to drive growth across the biomethane sector.

Anaerobic Digestors (AD), used to produce biomethane, can bring significant benefits to the communities and the local environment in which they are located, but are also significant infrastructure, with impacts on the environment, biospheres, and local communities. AD and other integrated assets are, therefore, correctly required to undergo a planning process to ensure proper consideration of a range of factors, including location, visual impact, land-zoning plans, and ecology.

AD, although a very well-established technology in Europe with over 20,000 plants in operation, is a relatively new and unknown technology in Ireland. Increased awareness of AD technology would improve understanding and consistency of approach by planning authorities to assessing proposed AD developments. Steps which will be taken to inform the public and planners on the nature of AD developments are addressed within the Biomethane Strategy, in particular the commitment to deliver an Online Information Hub and develop planning guidelines for local authorities when assessing AD plants planning applications. The guidelines will be developed by the Biomethane Implementation Group, established in 2024, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Teagasc, and the SEAI.