Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 February 2022
199. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the environmental aid scheme has been renewed since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8366/22]
View answerOn the 21 December 2021 the Environmental Aid Scheme was renewed, endorsed, and adopted by the European Commission under new ‘Guidelines on State aid for Climate, Environmental Protection and Energy’ and came into force on 1 January 2022. The revision aims to ensure that state aid rules do not impede the European Green Deal goals. This will be integrated into the EU State Aid's General Block Exemption Regulation in 2022.
My Department has been engaging with its agencies on this new framework with a view to further improving my Department's environmental aid offerings through its agencies.
