John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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106. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to provide an update on the publication of the Biomethane Sustainability Charter which is intended to transparently outline the key principles to guide AD developers in relation to plant operation, management, sustainability and local engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49271/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Government has committed to the ambitious delivery of indigenously produced biomethane by 2030. In response to this commitment, my Department, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, published the National Biomethane Strategy in May 2024.

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

Chaired by my Department, with close support from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Group reports directly to the Heat and Built Environment Taskforce on on-going progress. It 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.

Sustainability is a key pillar of the National Biomethane Strategy, with an emphasis on ensuring development of the anaerobic digestion (AD) industry in an environmentally sustainable manner, achieving high standards for the protection of water, soil, biodiversity and the local ecosystem. A priority action within the strategy is the development of the Biomethane Sustainability Charter. The charter is now finalised and is being prepared for publication. It will outline key requirements and best practices that AD developers, owners and feedstock producers should adhere to for the purposes of considering and protecting the local environment.

Government has also agreed to the introduction of a Renewable Heat Obligation Scheme (RHO) ensuring an increasing use of renewable fuels across the full heating sector. Biomethane will be a key fuel type that will be eligible under the scheme. The RHO will be vital for the development of Ireland’s indigenous biomethane sector. The aim is to be ambitious and increase the obligation rate over the coming years as quickly as possible, as the scheme will play an important role in supporting the achievement of Ireland’s renewable heat targets.

The General Scheme of the RHO Bill was approved by Government in July. Implementation of the scheme is scheduled to start in 2026. My officials are working with the Office of Parliamentary Council on the drafting of the legislation which has been given priority status and it is expected that it will progress through the legislative process over the coming months.

The scheme's terms and conditions are being developed with the scheme administrator, the National Oil Reserves Agency, and engagement with the European Commission is ongoing, ensuring that it complies with EU internal market rules.