Legislation will provide more certainty around timeframe for decisions – across energy, food, pharma, chemicals and waste sectors
 
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien secured Cabinet approval this week for the publication of the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. This new legislation will provide more certainty around the timeframe for decisions on EPA licences – across energy, food, pharma, chemicals, waste and other industrial sectors.
 
The Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill provides powers to prescribe timeframes for EPA licencing decisions, as well as providing more options for the Agency to efficiently regulate minor changes to industrial licences.
 
Issues identified with the current legislation, which governs the licensing regime, include that:

• there is no definite timeframe within which decisions on licence applications/reviews are made;
• it is taking longer than is optimal for decisions to be made; and
• even minor proposed changes to a site require a full licence review (the full licence is examined, not just elements associated with a minor proposed change).

 
Commenting on the developments, Minister O'Brien said:
 
“The legislation will continue to protect our environment and ensure that our laws are appropriate but also proportionate, when it comes to regulating industrial activity.
 
“Introducing definite and shorter timeframes for licence decisions will provide more certainty for investment. This, in turn, will boost sustainable development, facilitate economic activity and improve our competitiveness.”
 
Existing EPA licences
 
There are approximately 900 EPA licences in operation in Ireland which regulate large installations in sectors such as waste, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, intensive agriculture (poultry and pigs), energy, food and drink production and cement production.
 
Installations carrying out the above activities are required to have an EPA licence (Industrial Emissions, Integrated Pollution Control or Waste licence) in place before they operate. In addition, before changes that affect emissions to an existing site are made, the operator is required to apply to amend (review) an existing EPA licence before such changes are made.

Bill follows through on commitments given in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn – setting standards for forestry corridors
 
Minister for the Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien today brought the Heads of a Bill to Cabinet – to enhance the resilience of the electricity grid. The Government subsequently approved priority drafting of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025.
 
The unprecedented outages caused by Storm Éowyn exposed critical vulnerabilities arising from unmanaged vegetation and commercial forestry close to electricity infrastructure. At the peak, 768,000 customers across the country were without electricity supply as a result of Storm Éowyn. Accordingly, the Bill will provide for the establishment and maintenance of forestry corridors – areas within a given distance of the electricity network, within which forestry vegetation and related activities can be restricted by law.
 
The Bill will:

• provide ESB Networks with additional vegetation management powers;
• enable the Minister to make regulations on the dimensions and conditions of corridors; attach responsibilities to landowners for corridor maintenance;
• establish principles for the compensation of landowners affected by forestry corridor works;
• and in light of the urgency of this undertaking disapply the Planning and Development Act 2000 for the associated works, while confirming continued application of the environmental obligations under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives.

 
The Minister briefed Cabinet that additional costs to the Exchequer were not expected, as costs associated with improvements to the resilience of the electricity grid are covered by network tariffs set as part of periodic price reviews. This process is overseen by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, which ensures that only appropriate, efficient and justified costs are approved of for recovery.
 
In parallel with the drafting of this Bill, actions under the ESB Networks Winter 2025 Grid Resilience Plan continue to be implemented.
 
The Winter 2025 Grid Resilience Plan calls for:

• a survey of the electricity network, with hazards made safe and necessary refurbishments identified;
• a co-operative effort between ESB Networks, Coillte and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to identify at-risk segments of the network for priority remediation;
• the replenishment of ESB Network’s emergency stocks of spare parts and materials to double their previous capacity;
• the strengthening of relationships with European utilities through the signing of memoranda of understanding on mutual assistance;
• and a formal storm review to identify recommendations to prepare for future storms.

 
Speaking about the legislation, Minister O’Brien said:
 
“I am pleased to announce that the Government has approved priority drafting of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025. This will be a critical piece of legislation supporting the protection of our electricity grid, thereby safeguarding homes and businesses – and especially the most vulnerable members of our communities across the country – during the more frequent and destructive storms we now face. The legislation will also regularise the requirements on foresters in relation to electricity infrastructure, providing certainty to both the network operator and landowners.
 
“I note that the Bill provides principles for the compensation of affected landowners. In drafting this Bill, my Department will engage in thorough consultation with the forestry industry, as well as other Departments, Coillte, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and other relevant stakeholders. The legislation and the regulations it will enable will strike an appropriate balance – between infrastructure resilience, the viability of the forestry sector, environmental impact and control of costs.”

Investment will support the delivery of key Government priorities of housing, renewable energy and competitiveness
 
The Government has today approved a landmark €3.5 billion investment in Ireland’s electricity grid infrastructure (2026-2030), as part of the National Development Plan. This represents the largest single investment in the country’s electricity network in its history. This transformative investment will strengthen Ireland’s energy security, support economic growth and accelerate our transition to renewable energy.
 
The investment will see €1.5 billion allocated to ESB Networks and €2 billion to EirGrid, enabling both companies to significantly increase capital investment to expand our onshore and offshore electricity transmission and distribution network infrastructure. This historic commitment will future-proof Ireland’s electricity system and ensure it can meet the growing demands of our economy, our homes, and our climate targets. The transition to a renewables-led energy system requires significant investment, but is crucial to provide secure, sustainable, and affordable energy for generations to come.
 
The enhanced grid will be crucial to deliver on key Programme for Government commitments, including achieving 80% renewable electricity by 2030. This requires building 9GW of onshore wind, 8GW of solar power, and 5GW of offshore wind in construction by 2030 – targets that are only possible with a world-class electricity network.
 
The scale of the investment is reflective of expenditure required in most European countries as they seek to increase connections of renewable energy, interconnect with neighbouring countries and provide reliable networks for the increased electrification of the energy system.
 
Commenting, Minister O’Brien said:

“This €3.5 billion investment is about building the energy infrastructure that Ireland needs for the future. It’s about ensuring every home and business has a reliable and secure source of electricity, creating thousands of jobs, and making Ireland a more attractive place for international companies to invest and grow.
 
“A modern, resilient electricity grid is the backbone of everything we want to achieve — from powering the 300,000 new homes we’ve committed to build by 2030, to attracting the foreign investment that creates jobs in communities across Ireland. This investment will help to deliver energy security for Irish families and businesses, while helping us reach our target of generating 80% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030.”
 
Minister of State with responsibility for the Marine, Timmy Dooley, said:

“Ireland’s offshore energy potential is enormous, and this grid investment is essential to unlock it. Our Atlantic coastline offers some of the best offshore wind resources in the world, and with the right infrastructure, we can transform Ireland from an energy importer to an energy exporter.”
 
The investment forms part of the Price Review 6 (PR6) process currently underway, with a final decision by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) expected by the end of the year.

Climate Action Fund support will bring industry to the next step; this early-phase investment will underpin the future development of district heating networks
 
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien has approved the allocation of €5 million to support pre-construction development costs for efficient district heating projects in Ireland. The funding will come from the Climate Action Fund (CAF).
 
Government policy supports the expansion of district heating in Ireland, contributing to the diversification of fuel supply and decarbonisation of the heat sector. Deployment of district heating at scale, particularly in densely populated areas with readymade heat sources located nearby, is a key Government objective under the Climate Action Plan. It is also a key component in meeting the ‘Built Environment’ Sectoral Emissions Ceiling.
 
The State has financially supported the development of district heat networks in Ireland through the CAF. For example, there is a relatively large-scale scheme operational in Ireland, which was developed by South Dublin County Council (SDCC) in Tallaght, supported by the CAF. In addition, Dublin City Council is working to develop a large project that will use waste heat from the Dublin waste-to-energy facility in Poolbeg to heat public sector, commercial and residential buildings, initially in the adjacent area with plans to progressively expand into Dublin city.
 
District Heating Steering Group
 
In line with the Government’s District Heating Steering Group Report recommendation to provide financial support for district heating, the Minister is also seeking a multi-annual financial allocation – to enable the construction of efficient district heating projects over the period 2026 to 2030. As part of this process, and in line with the Infrastructure Guidelines, the Department – in partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's District Heating Centre of Excellence – is preparing a business case seeking to establish future State funding (2026-2030) to support efficient district heating projects in suitable locations, usually urban areas with high heat density.
 
Support for the pre-construction development costs for efficient district heating projects is being introduced, to ensure efficient district heating projects are in position to avail of this future funding. It was critical that this funding was put in place to encourage a significant number of efficient district heating projects to be ‘shovel ready’ once future funds are available.
 
Minister O’Brien said:
 
“I am delighted to be able to announce the allocation of €5 million to support the pre-construction development costs of efficient district heating projects in Ireland. District heating will be a pivotal technology to help Ireland reach its climate ambitions, while also improving our energy security and affordability. This is evident through the success of the existing district heat scheme in Tallaght.
 
“I have seen an appetite in this industry to start developing projects immediately.
 
“This announcement will help industry to make the next step. When the pre-construction development fund is open, I encourage all potential efficient district heating project sponsors to apply. My Department will collaborate with the SEAI District Heating Centre of Excellence to develop this fund and make this allocation available as soon as possible. With a strong pipeline of projects ready to progress, funding this element now will set the district heating industry up for success, once the future state fund is in place to support the full construction of efficient district heating projects.
 
Fund availability
 
This fund will be open to both private and public authorities who want to advance efficient district heating in Ireland. It is envisaged that this funding can be used to support pre construction development costs. However, this allocation is intended to also support projects which have already started some of their development work.
 
The Government recognise that investing now in the early phase infrastructure will deliver key backbone elements for district heating networks that will decarbonise heat for larger anchor customers within this decade, and can be further leveraged, through future investment, to target smaller heat loads in the medium-to-longer term.
 
ENDS

Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien has welcomed the final decision on the nighttime use of runways at Dublin Airport, published on 17 July by An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Minister O’Brien said:
“I welcome the clarity this decision brings to permitted levels of nighttime air traffic operations at Dublin Airport. Maximising connectivity to and from Ireland is one of my priorities and one of the key commitments in the Programme for Government. 
Having met with local residents I am also very aware of their concerns. It is important that daa continue to act as a ‘good neighbour’ by engaging with neighbouring communities, particularly in relation to the noise insulation scheme and other matters of concern. 
This decision should enable daa to progress the planning applications which have been submitted to Fingal County Council. I encourage them to now move to respond to the requests for further information from the relevant authorities. This will facilitate the planning decisions necessary for sustainable development of the airport.”
Notes:
An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) set out conditions in the Decision which provide for:  

• a noise quota system for nighttime operations at the airport 
• an annual limit of 35,672 aircraft movements between 11pm and 7am – in effect, an average of 98 aircraft movements a night
• No use of the new north runway between midnight and 6am, except in exceptional specified circumstances
• An insulation scheme for eligible property owners.  

The decision of ACP provides an essential safeguard against excessive nighttime activity while allowing for airport growth. It also accommodates historic slots and future flexibility, ensuring that the regulatory framework remains balanced and proportionate.

• The Plan sets out 12 Primary Actions with the potential to have a transformative impact on road safety. These are supplemented by a further 77 support actions.
• This Action Plan builds on the Phase 1 Action Plan and will be implemented collaboratively by partners working across the sector.

 
Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety, Seán Canney, and Minister of State with responsibility for Rural Transport, Jerry Buttimer, have published the Phase 2 Action Plan of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy. The Action Plan will run from 2025 to 2027. 
The Phase 2 Action Plan represents the next stage in implementation of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, which is the current national framework for road safety. This Strategy was launched in December 2021.
The primary aim of the Strategy is to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on Irish roads by 50% this decade and to work towards the achievement of Vision Zero—as close as possible to no deaths or serious injuries on Irish roads—by 2050.
The Phase 2 Action Plan focuses on the delivery of 12 primary actions that have the potential for truly transformative impacts. These primary actions require collaboration across all road safety partners. The actions are supplemented by 77 supporting actions, many of which will also bring substantial road safety benefits.
These primary actions include:

• Continued investment in safe, sustainable transport
• The rollout of safer default speed limits
• Improved data sharing
• Camera-based enforcement and other technology advancements 5
• The development and delivery of an integrated programme of road safety education across a person’s life.

 
The Phase 2 Action Plan follows the Safe System approach, which is viewed as best practice globally in the delivery of road safety strategies. The Safe System approach emphasises the shared responsibility among those who design, build, manage and use the roads and vehicles to prevent or reduce collision impacts; and those who provide post-crash response to mitigate injury.
Speaking today, Minister O’Brien said:
“I am pleased to publish the Phase 2 Action Plan of the Road Safety Strategy, which delivers on the Government’s continuing commitment to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on our roads. As we are all painfully aware, there has been an increase in road deaths since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, through the work of stakeholders from across the sector, the numbers have been slowly improving since 2023 and it is important that we sustain and accelerate this progress. This Plan sets out how we will achieve this and, at its centre, includes 12 actions that we believe can have a potentially transformative impact on road safety in this country in the coming years.”
Minister Canney said:
“I welcome the publication of Phase 2 of our Road Safety Strategy and I look forward to regularly engaging with stakeholders from across the road safety sector on its implementation. I share the view of the Garda Commissioner that we need a road safety reset in this country and I am confident this Action Plan provides a framework through which we can achieve our road safety goals and reduce the number of fatalities on our roads. Every road fatality is one too many, and a tragedy for families and communities across the country. It is incumbent on all of us to do all we can to prevent such tragedies.”
Minister Buttimer said:          
“This Action Plan sets out clearly that improving road safety is a matter of concern and responsibility for us all. As Minister with responsibility for Rural Transport I am highly aware of the communities that have been blighted by the tragedy of road deaths and collisions, and I look forward to working with all stakeholders to make roads safer for all users.”           
The Department of Transport and the Road Safety Authority worked closely with a range of road safety stakeholders, including other Government Departments and State agencies, to formulate the Action Plan. Speaking on behalf of the Justice Sector, Minister O’Callaghan said:
“Road safety is a shared responsibility and one which this Government takes very seriously. We must take the necessary actions that together can improve driver behaviour and ultimately save lives on our roads.
“Ongoing enforcement of road safety laws by An Garda Síochána, the use of improved technology and the continued enhancement of the network of mobile, static and average speed cameras are important aspects of the Road Safety Strategy. They work together with other actions in this strategy to improve road design, driver behaviour and education, severity of penalties, and speed limits. 
“I welcome the launch of this next phase of the Road Safety Strategy. While challenges remain, working collaboratively, we can sustain the progress recently evidenced and significantly reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads. As always, I would urge everyone to slow down, pay attention and help us all travel safely.”
To support the development of the Action Plan, the Department of Transport established the Road User Safety Forum in September 2024. It comprises road safety advocates and experts representing a range of interests and perspectives. The forum initially served as a consultative body for the Phase 2 Action Plan, contributing valuable insights to the final plan, and it will now continue its work for the duration of Phase 2 to provide feedback and advice on its implementation.
The Phase 2 Action Plan can be viewed here: Road Safety Strategy: Phase 2 Action Plan 2025-2027.