Post: Ireland’s Programme for Government 2025

Ireland’s Programme for Government 2025

The newly elected Irish Government recently ratified Ireland’s Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future.

The document, ratified on 15 January, outlines the Government’s objectives and commitments for the next five years in key areas including infrastructure, transport, housing, climate, energy, public services and the economy.

The Programme reaffirms many of the renewable energy targets of the previous Government. It also focuses on energy and decarbonisation, and recognises the interconnectedness of those topics with the growth of the Irish economy and Irish climate commitments. Among other measures the programme confirms the Government’s commitment to:

• prioritise investment in the electricity grid to update power generation systems
• publish the Private Wires Policy Framework
• introduce statutory timelines for grid connection agreements
• facilitate the development new electricity interconnectors
• implement the European Green Deal
• hold at least one Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (“RESS”) auction per year
• explore funding models for RESS and the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy
• facilitate the development of at least 5GW of offshore wind, 9GW of onshore wind and 8GW of solar renewable energy by 2030
• achieve 80% of Ireland’s electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030
• advance battery development and develop national planning guidelines for battery and solar energy

Following on from Budget 2025, which was characterised by its significant investment in infrastructure, the Programme for Government confirms that stable, long-term, effective delivery of essential infrastructure remains a key priority.

A dedicated infrastructure division will advise the Government, on strategic project selection, project prioritisation, and efficiency. A new Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, chaired by the Taoiseach, will be tasked with progressing infrastructure delivery and efficiency. National Development Plan (the “NDP”) / Infrastructure Investment.

The NDP (which forms part of Project Ireland 2040) remains the Government’s long-term strategy for the development of Ireland’s infrastructure. An early review of the NDP will be completed in July 2025 to facilitate increased public sector investment to address infrastructural deficits. It also confirms the Government’s continued commitment to fund the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund (ICNF) and the Future Ireland Fund (FIF), which aim to ensure the continued long-term availability of resources to invest in infrastructure and climate objectives.

To accelerate the transition to electric and sustainable transport, the electrification of rail and bus fleets will continue and a National EV Infrastructure Strategy, and new National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Roadmap will be developed.