Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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43. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will publish a report by an organisation (details supplied) reviewing its recommendations in relation to the necessity of LNG for energy security; if he will outline the conclusions of that review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17931/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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In November 2023, the previous Government approved and published the ‘Energy Security in Ireland to 2030’ report which concludes that Ireland’s future energy will be secure by moving from a fossil fuel-based energy system to an electricity-led system, maximising our renewable energy potential, flexibility and being integrated into Europe’s energy systems. With regard to gas, the report determines that as a transitional measure, a Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve should be introduced to address security needs in the medium-term, to be used only if a disruption to gas supplies occurs.

I received approval from Government in recent weeks to develop a strategic gas emergency reserve in the form of a floating storage and regassification unit. This strategic gas emergency reserve will mitigate the catastrophic consequences to Ireland's society and economy of a disruption to gas supplies.

In December last, my Department engaged CEPA (Cambridge Economic Policy Associates Ltd) to carry out an updated analysis of security of energy supply in Ireland covering the period beyond 2030 and up to 2040. This study builds on CEPA’s technical analysis of the security of supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems up to 2030, published in September 2022, that helped inform the review of Ireland’s energy security.

The additional analysis conducted by Cambridge Economic Policy Associates is currently under review by my Department but I can confirm that the study finds that Ireland will not meet the N-1 infrastructure standard for gas during the 2030s. The reports finds that the addition of an FSRU will allow Ireland to meet this standard.

It is intended to publish this report in the coming weeks.