Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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110. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government for an update on the State's position regarding an LNG terminal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30068/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As outlined in the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to taking decisive action to radically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and to achieve a 51% reduction in emissions from 2018 to 2030, and to achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050.

The Programme for Government also commits to achieving 80% of Ireland’s electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030 and to take all necessary action to ensure and protect Ireland’s energy security.

It is through delivering on this commitment that a secure and sustainable energy future will be delivered.

I recently received Government approval to proceed with the development of a State-led strategic gas emergency reserve. The delivery of a temporary gas reserve is critical to Ireland’s energy security as we continue to transition to indigenous, clean renewable energy. Crucially, the strategic gas emergency reserve will also ensure compliance with EU standards and regulation.

The emergency reserve will be in the form of a Floating Storage and Regassification Unit (FSRU), to be owned on behalf of the State by the system operator, Gas Networks Ireland (GNI). This is a similar approach to that used for oil security by the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA).

The Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve is not intended for commercial use.

The operation of the strategic gas emergency reserve will be underpinned by policy and legislation that my Department is progressing as a matter of priority.

In December last, my Department engaged Cambridge Economic Policy Associates (CEPA) to carry out an updated analysis of security of energy supply in Ireland covering the period beyond 2030 and up to 2040. I intend to publish this report and related material. I can confirm that the study finds that Ireland will not meet the N-1 infrastructure standard for gas during the 2030s, but that the addition of a Floating Storage and Regassification unit, as approved by Government in March, will allow Ireland to meet this standard.