Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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166. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government whether national planning guidelines for anaerobic digestion and biomethane production facilities are being prepared; when he expects such guidelines to be published; whether they will address issues including appropriate scale, location, zoning, feedstock, traffic, odour, digestate management, water quality, emissions, biodiversity, community gain and cumulative impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50430/26]

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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207. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the engagement hi Department has had with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the development of planning guidelines for anaerobic digestion and biomethane facilities, given the targets set out in the National Biomethane Strategy; whether he considers the absence of such guidelines to be a barrier to sustainable delivery of biomethane infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50432/26]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 207 together.

Government has committed to deliver an ambitious target for indigenously produced biomethane by 2030. 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 National Biomethane Strategy is an on-going process of collaboration across key Government Departments and State Agencies, including the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 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.

Anaerobic Digestion (AD), although a very well-established technology in Europe with over 20,000 plants in operation, is a relatively small sector in Ireland to date. However, there is a robust regulatory framework in place to underpin the further development of the AD industry in Ireland and harness the benefits of biomethane.

For example, plants involved in AD of animal by-products or derived products must be approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Depending on the plants activity various licences are required from the Environmental Protection Agency. Onsite health and safety is regulated by the Health and Safety Authority and the plants connection to the gas network is regulated through the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and Gas Networks Ireland’s procedures and standards.

AD and other integrated assets are required to undergo a planning process to ensure proper consideration of a range of factors including location, visual impact, land-zoning plans, and ecology. Requirements for these are currently set out through several acts, policy documents, spatial strategies, and development plans. Projects above a certain threshold are also required to complete an Environmental Impact Assessment.

My Department has had engagement on the development of planning guidelines for AD facilities through a sub-group that was developed as part of the Biomethane Implementation Group to specifically examine such document. The support document to assist local representatives and planning authorities when assessing planning applications for biomethane plants is now being developed by ARUP Consultancy and is anticipated to be finalised in 2026.