Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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142. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the milestones the Government hopes to achieve around the expansion of biogas in the 34th Dáil; and the next steps in this area. [30022/25]

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. The production and supply of this renewable energy will require the development of the anaerobic digestion (AD) industry at scale. However, sustainability must remain a key consideration as we look to change the way we source our energy to ensure we avoid negatively impacting on land use and food security.

AD produces biogas which can be captured and upgraded to biomethane and used for renewable energy. My Department has developed a number of schemes and initiatives designed to increase the energy generated from renewable sources, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland. These schemes include the grid-scale, auction-based Renewable Electricity Support Scheme, the Microgeneration Support Scheme, for smaller installations, up to 50 kW in size (30 kWe for micro-renewable Combined Heat and Power), and the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat.

Government has also agreed to the introduction of an obligation on the heat sector to include renewable heat. The introduction of a Renewable Heat Obligation will support and encourage the production of biomethane, and further increase the use of renewable heat.

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. Implementation of the strategy is an on-going process of collaboration across key Government Departments and Agencies. The Biomethane Implementation Group has been established to oversee implementation of the strategy and delivery of the 25 key strategic actions to ensure the necessary infrastructure and supports are in place to support development of an indigenous biomethane industry of scale.

Chaired by my Department, the implementation group is comprised of relevant key Government Departments and Agencies, as well as sectoral representatives. The group continues to engage with action owners and key stakeholders to finalise a full progress report which will provide an update on key deliverables, including publication of the Biomethane Charter, and development of the Biomethane Information Hub and Communications Strategy. It is expected that this progress report will be published on Gov.ie shortly.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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143. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the proposals being made to optimise agricultural and food waste to advance plans to produce biogas; and the next plans in this area. [30021/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The National Heat Study completed an extensive analysis of land available for energy feedstocks available in Ireland and identified biomethane as a competitive, cost-efficient, path to achieving our climate ambitions. The production and supply of this renewable energy will require the development of the anaerobic digestion industry at scale. However, sustainability must remain a key consideration as we look to change the way we source our energy to ensure we avoid negatively impacting on land use and food security.

Government has also agreed to the introduction of an obligation on the heat sector to include renewable heat. The introduction of a Renewable Heat Obligation will support and encourage the production of biomethane, and further increase the use of renewable heat.

Implementation of the National Biomethane Strategy is an on-going process of collaboration across key Government Departments and Agencies. The Biomethane Implementation Group has been established to oversee implementation of the strategy and delivery of the 25 key strategic actions to ensure the necessary infrastructure and supports are in place to support development of an indigenous biomethane industry of scale.

The implementation group is comprised of relevant key Government Departments and Agencies, as well as sectoral representatives, and continues to engage with action owners and key stakeholders to finalise a full progress report which will provide an update on key deliverables, including publication of the Biomethane Charter, and development of the Biomethane Information Hub and Communications Strategy. It is expected that this progress report will be published on Gov.ie shortly.

Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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144. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he anticipates that changes to the solar PV programme grant amounts will impact the uptake of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30243/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government approved the high-level design for the Micro-Generation Support Scheme (MSS) on the 21st of December 2021, as a means of supporting 380MW of new micro-generation capacity by 2030 under the Climate Action Plan.

As part of the approved MSS Final Scheme Design, the maximum grant levels for Domestic applicants were set out for the period from 2022 to 2028. The grant levels were based on the level of available exchequer funding to meet the expected demand, as well as a recognition that solar pv installation costs were expected to reduce over time. In 2022 and 2023, the maximum grant levels were set at €2,400. Thereafter, the maximum grant would be reduced by a maximum of €300 per annum, until 2028.

Since its launch in 2022, the Domestic Solar PV grant scheme has gone from strength to strength, with over 10,000 applicants supported in 2022, at a cost of over €24.4 million.

2023 proved even more successful, with domestic solar installation further supported by the Government decision to apply a zero percent VAT rate for the ‘Supply and installation of solar panels on domestic premises’ from 1 May. The scheme was allocated €29.4m in Budget 2023, which was projected to support an installed capacity of 55.6MW in 12,500 homes. By the end of 2023, 22,214 homes had received grant support, to a total value of €52.2m.

In 2024, while the maximum grant was reduced to €2,100, over 28,000 homes received grant support to the value of €62.2m. In 2025, the grant was reduced to €1,800 and so far, applications have increased over 2024.

This high level of demand indicates that the scheme is working well and that not only have citizens recognised the significant benefits of investing in Solar PV, but that the solar pv industry and supply chain have adapted to the demands of our citizens. The scheme will be kept under review to ensure it is operating effectively and making the best use of exchequer funding, in order to support Ireland’s significant target of 1.6 GW of Microgeneration by 2030.