Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment


The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment is a department of the Government of Ireland that is responsible for the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors and regulates, protects and develops the natural resources of Ireland. The head of the department is the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment.
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Departmental team

The official headquarters and ministerial offices are at Tom Johnson House, Beggar's Bush, Dublin. The departmental team consists of the following:

Overview

The department has responsibilities in the areas of:

Energy

Communications

  • Communications development – promotion of the provision and development of competitive high quality and world class services in the communications, electronic and mobile commerce sectors.
  • Business and technology – focusing on new business and technology applications and the development of policies, initiatives and legislation as appropriate.
  • Regulatory affairs – the development of effective policies for the regulation of the electronic communications sector and management of the radio frequency spectrum.
  • Postal services – the development of an effective policy for the Irish postal sector based on open market principles.
  • It is seen as a successor to the old Department of Posts and Telegraphs.

Natural Resources

  • The Petroleum Affairs Division aims to:
  • * maximise the benefits to the State from exploration for and production of indigenous oil and gas resources;
  • * ensure that activities are conducted safely and with due regard to their impact on the environment and other land/sea users.
  • The Exploration and Mining Division of the department is charged with:
  • * applying the Minerals Development Act to minerals exploration and development;
  • * encouraging the early identification and responsible development by private investors of the Nation's minerals deposits in accordance with best international practice;
  • * enhancing the attractiveness of Ireland for international and national minerals investment by active promotional measures.
  • The Geological Survey of Ireland is:
  • * Ireland's National Earth Science Agency, and is responsible for providing geological advice and information.

Structure

The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications is subdivided into the following divisions:
  • Climate – The department has three major aims regarding climate change: To develop a competitive energy supply industry, to ensure security and reliability of energy supply, and to develop energy conservation and end-use efficiency.
  • Communications – The core policy objective of the Communications Sector is to contribute to sustained macro-economic growth and competitiveness and ensure that Ireland is best placed to avail of the emerging opportunities provided by the information and knowledge society, by promoting investment in state-of-the-art infrastructures, by providing a supportive legislative and regulatory environment and by developing a leading edge research and development reputation in the information, communications and digital technologies.
  • Natural Resources – This division is subdivided into three sectors: the Exploration and Mining Division, Petroleum Affairs Division, and the Geological Survey of Ireland.

Affiliated bodies

Among the state agencies and other bodies affiliated to the department in some way are:
Among the state-sponsored bodies of Ireland under the aegis of the Minister are:

History

The Department of Fisheries was created in 1921 during the Ministry of Dáil Éireann. It was given a statutory basis by the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924, soon after the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. This act provided it with:
The Schedule assigned it with the duties of the following bodies:
  • Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland—Fisheries Branch.
  • Congested Districts Board for Ireland—Fisheries Branch, and Rural Industries Branch.
  • The Conservators of Fisheries.

Alteration of name and transfer of functions

The name and functions of the department have changed several times by statutory instruments.
DateChange
2 June 1924Establishment of the Department of Fisheries
22 July 1927Transfer of Irish Land Commission from the Department of Agriculture
1 September 1928Renamed as the Department of Lands and Fisheries
1 December 1933Transfer of Forestry from the Department of Agriculture
1 April 1934Renamed as the Department of Lands
Transfer of Fisheries to the Department of Agriculture
9 April 1957Transfer of Fisheries from the Department of Agriculture
3 May 1965Transfer of Fisheries to the Department of Agriculture
8 February 1977Transfer of Lands to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
8 February 1977Transfer of Fisheries from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
9 February 1977Renamed as the Department of Fisheries
19 February 1978Renamed as the Department of Fisheries and Forestry
18 February 1986Transfer of Tourism from the Department of Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism
18 February 1986Renamed as the Department of Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry
19 March 1987Renamed as the Department of the Marine
31 March 1987Transfer of Shipping from the Department of Communications
31 March 1987Transfer of Tourism to the Department of Tourism and Transport
31 March 1987Transfer of Forestry and Wildlife to the Department of Energy
11 July 1997Transfer of Forestry from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
12 July 1997Renamed as the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources
15 July 1997Transfer of Mining from the Department of Public Enterprise
1 October 1997Transfer of Offshore Exploration from the Department of Public Enterprise
18 June 2002Transfer of Broadcasting from the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
18 June 2002Transfer of Communications from the Department of Public Enterprise
19 June 2002Renamed as the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources
1 January 2004Transfer of Forestry to Department of Agriculture and Food
19 October 2007Transfer of Fisheries to Department of Agriculture and Food
20 October 2007Renamed as the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
1 January 2008Transfer of Ordnance Survey Ireland from the Department of Finance
14 January 2015Transfer of Worker Participation from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
1 January 2016Transfer of Ordnance Survey Ireland to the Department of Justice and Equality
22 July 2016Transfer of Climate Action and Environment from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government
23 July 2016Renamed as the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
23 September 2020Transfer of Broadcasting to the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
24 September 2020Renamed as the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
1 June 2025Transfer of Cyber security to the Department of Justice
1 June 2025Transfer of Telecommunications to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
2 June 2025Renamed as the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment
1 August 2025Transfer of Marine environment from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage