Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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144. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify recent statements he has made regarding progress on climate targets in light of the 2.9% increase in greenhouse gas emissions in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024, as reported recently by the EPA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46038/25]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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145. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to outline his proposed policy response to the recently reported 2.9% increase in greenhouse gas emissions in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46039/25]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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146. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the 2.9% increase in greenhouse gas emissions in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024 as reported by the EPA recently renders Ireland at risk of non-compliance with the legally binding sectoral ceilings under the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46040/25]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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147. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he has engaged with or met the EPA following their recent report of a 2.9% increase in greenhouse gas emissions in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46041/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 to 147, inclusive, together.

The EPA’s most recent Quarterly Greenhouse Gas Emissions Indicator Report for Quarter 1 2025, published in July, shows that emissions rose by 2.9% compared to the same period in 2024. This increase can largely be attributed to higher fertiliser sales - due to delayed purchases in 2024 following adverse weather - and a 3.3% rise in electricity supply.

Quarterly data can provide useful insights but are often influenced by seasonal or one-off factors such as those above, and should not be read in isolation. A broader perspective shows that Ireland’s emissions fell by 2% (1.1 million tonnes CO2 eq) in 2024, marking the third consecutive year of decline. Emissions are now at their lowest in three decades despite a larger population and economy, demonstrating that economic growth and emissions reductions can go hand in hand.

For example, while the aforementioned increase in electricity supply contributed to an increase in emissions for this period, the overall proportion of fossil fuel generation continued to decline from 68% in 2018 to 43% in 2024. We get a greater share of our electricity – 35% on average – from onshore wind farms than anyone else in Europe. If fact, we’re world leaders in integrating renewables onto our grid - Irish wind farms provided 48% of Ireland’s power last February.

Ireland is undergoing a renewables-led energy transformation: coal is being phased out, renewable electricity generation has increased fivefold since 2005 and this is being underpinned by measures such as the transposition of the recast Renewable Energy Directive, further RESS and ORESS auctions, and a €2.5 billion grid upgrade programme, with additional investment through the PR6 framework for Eirgrid and ESB.

On compliance, the quarterly report alone does not determine whether Ireland risks exceeding its carbon budgets or sectoral ceilings. For this, the EPA’s annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections 2024–2055 (published in May) is the more appropriate reference. Those projections warn that both the first and second carbon budgets, and most sectoral ceilings, are likely to be exceeded. Under the WAM scenario, reductions of up to 23% by 2030 are predicted, but faster implementation is needed.

To accelerate delivery, I have established a new Climate Action Programme Board, comprising relevant Assistant Secretaries and reporting directly to the Climate Action Delivery Board, at Secretary General level, which I now chair. Its initial focus is on ensuring consistent delivery structures and prioritising high-impact CAP actions. Meeting our targets remains highly challenging, and there is no room for complacency, but I am committed to ensuring that we put in place the structures that will allow us to take the required accelerated action.

Finally, I can confirm that Department officials engaged with the EPA in advance of the quarterly report’s publication, receiving detailed briefings on its contents and my officials will continue to engage with the EPA throughout the rest of the year.