Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies. Deputy Dillon asked a question on energy security and gas security. The Government's view, which I endorse strongly, is that long-term gas security is secured through the development of green hydrogen and biogas, and biomethane in particular. In the medium term, our security comes from the Corrib field and the interconnectors with the UK. There will also be a need for some form of LNG storage, either floating or fixed. That is to be determined over the next few months.

With regard to new blue gas fields, no new expiration licences are being permitted by the Government but existing ones can be used. I do not know the details of the specific licence the Deputy referred to. I have read something about it the newspapers but I do not know all the facts. It has to be considered by the Department officials rather than by the Government.

On the implementation of the climate action plan for this year, the climate action plan for 2023 sets out how Ireland will respond to the climate crisis by placing the delivery of climate solutions at the heart of the development of our society. This plan includes actions to tackle the mitigation and adaption challenges posed by climate change. The Department of the Taoiseach prepares quarterly progress reports on the delivery of measures committed to under the climate action plan. These are published online for full transparency of the climate action plan implementation. The progress reports provide a detailed breakdown of completed and delayed actions each quarter. The latest progress report for the climate action plan was published last week on 14 November and placed on the Department's website. It reports on actions that were due to be completed in quarter three 2023. There have now been three progress reports produced under the Climate Action Plan 2023.

A delivery rate of 75% was reported for quarter 1 of 2023 a delivery rate of 63% was reported for quarter 2 of 2023 and a delivery rate of 29% was reported for quarter 3 of 2023. Combined, this gives an overall implementation rate of approximately 67% so far this year. The Deputy's attention is drawn to high impact measures across all progress reports highlighting the actions with more significant emissions reductions or adaption potential. The latest progress report details progress made on the 42 climate actions due for implementation in quarter 3 of this year. All delayed measures listed in the quarter 3 progress report will be carried forward and reported on in quarter 4. A considerable number of delayed actions in this quarter's report are minor delays and are expected to be completed shortly. Some high impact measures that were completed in quarter 3 and were highlighted in the progress report include the onshore RESS auction, the establishment of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, the launch of the new forestry programme and the introduction of a national fertiliser database.

I do not have an update on Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan's question about flood relief in Cork. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, is aware of the issue. I might ask him to come back directly on that. He is interested in exploring interim works that might help but is also aware of the problems we ran into with Lough Muckno, in Roscommon and so on in going ahead with work that might then be stopped for environmental reasons.

Anaerobic digestion is definitely a big part of the future as regards producing biogas and we are keen to encourage and support that as part of the systemic change that needs to happen. I am not familiar with small ones at household or business level. I am glad to hear they exist. I am not sure how they work or how the gas is stored but I will follow up on the issue of whether grants could be provided for that technology. As someone who composts, I have been able to avoid a lot of waste. I did not know it could be turned into biogas in a house. Perhaps it can. I would be interested to see how that works. It is a revelation for me.

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