Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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141. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he agrees with the EPA’s assessment in its latest report on Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections (details supplied); the reason no significant additional measures were included given the massive shortfall in emissions reductions relative to legally binding targets; and the steps he will take to address this. [30249/25]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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150. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will instruct his Department to revise the Climate Action Plan 2025 in light of the EPA's report on 28 May 2025; if not, the reason not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30066/25]

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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151. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will address the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent analysis outlining Ireland’s declining progress on greenhouse gas emissions targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30265/25]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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163. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the steps being taken to achieve the national target reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of 51% in light of the finding of the EPA that Ireland is projected to achieve only a reduction of up to 23% in total greenhouse gas emissions by 2030; the analysis undertaken to establish the value of potential financial penalties for failing to meet this target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30106/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 141, 150, 151 and 163 together.

The latest analysis from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are an indicator of the scale of the climate challenge ahead. They serve as a clear signal that, while significant progress is being made, the pace of implementation of our climate policies must be accelerated if we are to meet our 2030 targets.

However, the EPA projections are not forecasts of what will happen, but rather a measure of progress based on the current pace of delivery up to 2023, and are revised on an ongoing basis. This Government is fully committed to intensifying our efforts and bridging the gap identified by the EPA.

It is crucial to recognise the progress already achieved by Ireland. In 2023, Ireland recorded a 6.8% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, the most substantial single-year reduction to date. This demonstrates that our policies are having a real impact. We have successfully decoupled economic growth from emissions; since 1990, our GDP has increased six-fold and our population by nearly 50%, yet emissions are lower today than they were then. Few countries have achieved this under such rapid growth pressures.

We are in the midst of a renewables-led energy transformation. Peat-fired electricity generation has ended, coal is being phased out, and renewable energy is now the backbone of our power system, providing an estimated 40% of our electricity in 2024—a fivefold increase since 2005. This transition is being powered by unprecedented investment, including a €2.5 billion programme of grid upgrades. New interconnectors, like the now-operational Greenlink to the UK and the Celtic Interconnector to France, which is on track for completion by 2026/2027, are enhancing our energy security and capacity for clean power exchange.

Progress is also accelerating in other key areas. Home retrofitting has scaled up to an average of 1,000 homes a week being upgraded last year. The rollout of the Solar for Schools Programme is providing clean energy and a real-world example of climate action for the next generation. In transport, electric vehicle sales continue to grow, with a 23% increase in April of this year compared to last.

The EPA report rightly notes that the delivery of some measures has been more conservative than initially hoped. In response, I, as Minister, and this Government is focused on delivery of existing measures and additional targeted action. Climate Action Plan delivery is an iterative process, updated annually to reflect the latest evidence and to strengthen our approach. CAP25 has been published and our focus is on the accelerated delivery of its key actions. In parallel, work is underway on the development of potential further measures for consideration in CAP26 and beyond.

To drive this acceleration, governance structures have been strengthened. The new Climate Action Programme Board, comprising senior officials from all key departments, held its first meeting last month. Its explicit remit is to focus on the accelerated delivery of actions needed to close the emissions gap, to remove blockages and to de-risk delivery.

Regarding potential financial penalties, the EU governance framework does not provide for the imposition of direct fines and partially purchasing compliance could have significant costs. However, estimating these costs requires working with significant data limitations as, at this point, there is no established cost for purchase of allowances from other Member States.

In February 2023, officials from my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform published a joint research paper - Spending Review 2023: Estimating the Potential Cost of Compliance with 2030 Climate & Energy Targets - as a first step at estimating the cost of compliance with EU climate targets under the Effort Sharing Regulation.

My officials are continuing to work closely with relevant Government Departments, and other key interlocutors, to determine what the potential cost exposure might be and to develop options for complying with our climate targets which both uphold our climate commitments and limit the potential costs to the State.

However, the Government's entire focus is on meeting our targets. All analysis and resources are directed towards compliance with our legally binding obligations, thereby avoiding any such penalties. The most effective way to avoid costs is to meet our targets through determined action. The Government is committed to addressing the climate crisis, protecting our environment, and securing a sustainable, prosperous future for Ireland.