In 2024, environmental subsidies and similar transfers in Ireland totalled €2.3 billion, up €353 million, or 18%, when compared with 2023 (See Table 1). This increase was mainly due to the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy of €252 million in 2024, which was effectively zero in 2023.
The increase in the PSO levy, which supports renewable energy projects, had an impact on overall climate-related subsidies, which were up €122 million from €363 million in 2023 to €485 million in 2024 (See Figure 2).
In 2024 grants paid to households increased by €20 million, rising from €421 million in 2023 to €441 million in 2024 (See Figure 3 and Table 2).
EU funded subsidies increased by €13 million, or 3% between 2023 and 2024 going up from €414 million to €427 million.
The largest overall environmental subsidy in 2024 was €582 million for wastewater infrastructure. This was a €59 million (+11%) increase on the 2023 figure of €523 million.
Figure 1 shows the value in current prices of environmental subsidies and similar transfers for 2015-2024, with a breakdown showing the four largest subsidies by classification of environmental purpose. Total environmental transfers were at their highest in 2024 at €2.3 billion in value.
Table 1 gives a breakdown of environmental subsidies and similar transfers from 2015-2024 by classification of environmental purpose.
| Year | Energy From Renewable Sources | Energy Saving and Management | Wastewater Management | Protection of Biodiversity and Landscape | All Other Environmental Purposes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 97.4549 | 101.8061 | 172.0809 | 141.8465 | 192.8076 | 705.996 |
| 2016 | 170.6694 | 97.9947 | 199.447 | 153.4009 | 215.4314 | 836.9434 |
| 2017 | 267.1437 | 96.6531 | 213.0069 | 219.636 | 226.2016 | 1022.6413 |
| 2018 | 372.5834 | 114.7918 | 230.9573 | 245.914 | 262.4364 | 1226.6829 |
| 2019 | 144.3045 | 141.8982 | 316.1871 | 226.9304 | 298.7237 | 1128.0439 |
| 2020 | 141.7561 | 151.2018 | 340.9893 | 214.9369 | 280.9086 | 1129.7927 |
| 2021 | 430.9709 | 113.3319 | 363.3273 | 218.2588 | 346.3077 | 1472.1966 |
| 2022 | 316.5481 | 222.1454 | 460.2079 | 208.703 | 378.5129 | 1586.1173 |
| 2023 | 69.5299 | 348.4122 | 523.7404 | 620.6333 | 423.9732 | 1986.289 |
| 2024 | 349.8206 | 397.7248 | 584.4557 | 623.6017 | 383.365 | 2338.9678 |
Figure 2 shows the value in current prices of climate-related subsidies and similar transfers for 2015-2024. In 2015, transfers for climate protection were €141 million in current prices. This rose to €485 million in 2024.
Individual subsidies were classified as 100%, 40%, or 0% climate-related based on how much they were targeted at climate protection. Some energy efficiency, renewable energy and forestry schemes have climate protection as a major objective, resulting in 40% of payments under these programmes being included as climate-related. A list of climate-related subsidy schemes is provided in the background notes to the release.
| Year | Climate-related subsidies |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 141.2801 |
| 2016 | 206.6423 |
| 2017 | 286.2895 |
| 2018 | 357.7505 |
| 2019 | 285.4425 |
| 2020 | 275.4138 |
| 2021 | 395.2717 |
| 2022 | 422.9793 |
| 2023 | 362.9778 |
| 2024 | 484.8988 |
Figure 3 shows how environmental subsidies and similar transfers were distributed to different sectors of the economy 2015-2024. Corporations received €1,050 million in environmental transfers in 2024. General government received transfers of €806 million, while households received €441 million. Non-profit institutions serving households received €22 million, and €20 million went to international organisations.
The NACE breakdown in Table 3 shows that transfers to corporations mainly went to the agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors (€713 million) and the public admin sector (€772 million). Environmental transfers to general government were mainly made to local authorities, Uisce Éireann, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Environmental Protection Agency. In 2024, most household grants were for the purpose of improving energy efficiency of homes.
Tables 2 and 3 provide a breakdown of environmental transfers by benefitting institutional sector and economic activity.
| Year | Corporations | General government | Households | Non-profit institutions serving households | Rest of the world |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 351.7094 | 239.378 | 102.8626 | 9.1637 | 2.8824 |
| 2016 | 437.4671 | 275.45 | 111.0109 | 8.1482 | 4.8672 |
| 2017 | 610.417 | 303.2588 | 93.9774 | 10.1851 | 4.803 |
| 2018 | 743.9065 | 334.8455 | 133.3509 | 9.5772 | 5.0028 |
| 2019 | 501.7166 | 419.7541 | 192.1026 | 9.4029 | 5.0677 |
| 2020 | 477.6755 | 447.3867 | 190.3477 | 7.3803 | 7.0025 |
| 2021 | 779.4262 | 496.241 | 178.546 | 10.8611 | 7.1224 |
| 2022 | 667.1297 | 625.1116 | 273.5907 | 10.8464 | 9.439 |
| 2023 | 788.4455 | 746.1081 | 420.8968 | 16.09 | 14.7486 |
| 2024 | 1050.3426 | 805.8053 | 441.2996 | 21.9765 | 19.5438 |
From 2019 to 2024 capital transfers exceeded current transfers, meaning that more funding was used for investment in infrastructure than to support day-to-day operating expenditure. Capital transfers were 49.3% of total environmental subsidies and similar transfers in 2024, while current transfers were 49.2% and tax abatements (such as VRT relief on electric vehicles) were 1.5% (See Table 4).
| Year | Capital Transfers | Current Transfers | Tax Abatements |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 370.7118 | 328.4341 | 6.8502 |
| 2016 | 403.2569 | 423.7244 | 9.9621 |
| 2017 | 423.7368 | 580.1815 | 18.7229 |
| 2018 | 469.8816 | 725.1589 | 31.6424 |
| 2019 | 596.4572 | 479.1748 | 52.412 |
| 2020 | 608.6222 | 473.9705 | 47.2 |
| 2021 | 724.6949 | 722.5826 | 24.9191 |
| 2022 | 877.2551 | 675.1622 | 33.7 |
| 2023 | 1112.2505 | 838.4385 | 35.6 |
| 2024 | 1152.9605 | 1150.1073 | 35.9 |
In 2024, 82% of environmental transfers were funded nationally, while the remaining 18% came from the EU (See Table 6). The amount of EU funding has increased by €13 million, from €414 million in 2023, to €427 million in 2024. This increase was mainly due to new agri-environment schemes.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (26 January 2026) published Environmental Subsidies and Similar Transfers 2024.
Commenting on the release, Jason Sibley, Statistician in the Environment Division, said: "This release shows that in 2024, environmental subsidies and similar transfers in Ireland totalled €2.3 billion, an increase of €353 million, or 18%, when compared with 2023 (See Table 1). Most of this increase was a result of the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy of €252 million in 2024, which was effectively zero in 2023.
The PSO levy is normally used to support renewable electricity projects when wholesale electricity prices are low. In those situations, the PSO helps cover the gap between what renewable generators earn from the market and the amount they need to stay financially viable. However, in 2023 wholesale electricity prices were very high, mainly due to rising gas prices. As renewable generators like wind and solar do not use gas, they were able to earn more from selling electricity without needing extra support. As a result, no PSO funding was needed for renewable energy schemes in 2023.
Subsidies and Household Grants
While overall spending on environmental subsidies grew, the inclusion of the PSO levy resulted in the amount of renewable energy subsidies increasing from €70 million in 2023 to €350 million in 2024. The PSO levy impacted on overall climate-related subsidies which were €485 million in 2024, up €122 million from €363 million in 2023 (See Figure 2).
The largest overall environmental subsidy in 2024 was €582 million for wastewater infrastructure. This was a €59 million (+11%) increase on the 2023 figure of €523 million. This substantial investment involved the completion of a number of new and upgraded wastewater treatment plants.
EU funded subsidies rose by €13 million, or 3%, from €414 million in 2023 to €427 million in 2024. The new agri-environment schemes, which are mainly EU funded were the main driver of this growth in 2024 (See Table 6). The PSO levy, which was the source of the bulk of the 2024 increase, is a national subsidy.
In 2024 there was a net increase in grants paid to households, from €421 million in 2023 to €441 million in 2024 (See Figure 3 and Table 2). This was due a mix of increased grants, such as home retrofitting measures and solar panels which were offset by reduced spending on grants for electric vehicles and home chargers."