Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 1, 2026

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 environmental policy, energy policy, and protects and develops the natural resources of Ireland. The department is led by the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment.

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Jun 1, 2026
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Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment
Map
Department overview
Formed26 August 1921
JurisdictionGovernment of Ireland
HeadquartersTom Johnson House, Haddington Road, Dublin
53°20′09″N 6°14′06″W / 53.335849°N 6.234909°W / 53.335849; -6.234909
Employees500
Minister responsible
Department executive
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (Irish: An Roinn Aeráide, Fuinnimh agus Comhshaoil) is a department of the government of Ireland that is responsible for environmental policy, energy policy, and protects and develops the natural resources of Ireland. The department is led by the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment.

Departmental team

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

Structure

The department has the following divisions:3

  • Grid and Strategy
  • Climate Action and Environment Policy
  • Security of Supply and Generation
  • Corporate Affairs and Strategic Development
  • Chief Audit Officer
  • Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency (includes the Geological Survey of Ireland)
  • Demand, Energy Affordability and Competitiveness
  • EU, International and Marine Affairs

Aegis bodies

The following bodies are under the aegis of the department:4

Energy

Climate Action and Environment

Natural Resources

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:5

the administration and business generally of public services in connection with fisheries, including deep-sea fisheries, tidal waters fisheries, coastal fisheries, inland waters fisheries, and industries connected with or auxiliary to the same, and all powers duties and functions connected with the same, and shall include in particular the business powers, duties and functions of the branches and officers of the public services specified in the Seventh Part of the Schedule to this Act, and of which Department the head shall be, and shall be styled, an t-Aire Iascaigh or (in English) the Minister for Fisheries.

The Schedule assigned it with the duties of the following bodies:6

Alteration of name and transfer of functions

The name and functions of the department have changed several times by statutory instruments.

Date Change
2 June 1924 Establishment of the Department of Fisheries7
22 July 1927 Transfer of Irish Land Commission from the Department of Agriculture8
1 September 1928 Renamed as the Department of Lands and Fisheries9
1 December 1933 Transfer of Forestry from the Department of Agriculture10
1 April 1934 Renamed as the Department of Lands
Transfer of Fisheries to the Department of Agriculture11
9 April 1957 Transfer of Fisheries from the Department of Agriculture12
3 May 1965 Transfer of Fisheries to the Department of Agriculture13
8 February 1977 Transfer of Lands to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries14
8 February 1977 Transfer of Fisheries from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries15
9 February 1977 Renamed as the Department of Fisheries16
19 February 1978 Renamed as the Department of Fisheries and Forestry17
18 February 1986 Transfer of Tourism from the Department of Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism18
18 February 1986 Renamed as the Department of Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry19
19 March 1987 Renamed as the Department of the Marine20
31 March 1987 Transfer of Shipping from the Department of Communications21
31 March 1987 Transfer of Tourism to the Department of Tourism and Transport22
31 March 1987 Transfer of Forestry and Wildlife to the Department of Energy23
11 July 1997 Transfer of Forestry from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry24
12 July 1997 Renamed as the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources25
15 July 1997 Transfer of Mining from the Department of Public Enterprise26
1 October 1997 Transfer of Offshore Exploration from the Department of Public Enterprise27
18 June 2002 Transfer of Broadcasting from the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands28
18 June 2002 Transfer of Communications from the Department of Public Enterprise29
19 June 2002 Renamed as the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources30
1 January 2004 Transfer of Forestry to Department of Agriculture and Food31
19 October 2007 Transfer of Fisheries to Department of Agriculture and Food32
20 October 2007 Renamed as the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources33
1 January 2008 Transfer of Ordnance Survey Ireland from the Department of Finance3435
1 January 2016 Transfer of Ordnance Survey Ireland to the Department of Justice and Equality36
22 July 2016 Transfer of Climate Action and Environment from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government37
23 July 2016 Renamed as the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment38
23 September 2020 Transfer of Broadcasting to the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht39
24 September 2020 Renamed as the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications40
1 June 2025 Transfer of Cyber security to the Department of Justice41
1 June 2025 Transfer of Telecommunications to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media42
2 June 2025 Renamed as the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment43
1 August 2025 Transfer of Marine environment from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage44
References

References

  1. "Government Ministers". Government of Ireland (gov.ie). Department of the Taoiseach. 12 March 2026 [18 December 2018]. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  2. "Secretary General of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment". Government of Ireland (gov.ie). Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment. 25 June 2025 [12 September 2019]. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  3. "Who Does What". Government of Ireland (gov.ie). Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment. 20 March 2026 [5 May 2023]. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  4. "State bodies under the aegis of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment". Government of Ireland (gov.ie). Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment. 13 August 2025 [23 June 2020].
  5. Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924, s. 1: Establishment of the Departments of State (No. 16 of 1924, s. 1). Enacted on 21 April 1924. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 3 November 2019.
  6. Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924, Schedule: Seventh Part (No. 16 of 1924, Schedule). Enacted on 21 April 1924. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 3 November 2019.
  7. "Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 (Commencement) Order 1924". Irish Statute Book. 30 May 1924. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  8. The Irish Land Commission (Re-Distribution of Public Services) Order 1927 (S.R.O. No. 55 of 1927). Signed on 20 July 1927. Statutory Rules and Orders of the Executive Council. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 17 January 2021.
  9. Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1928 (Commencement) Order 1928 (S.R.O. No. 49 of 1928). Signed on 7 August 1928. Statutory Rules and Orders of the Executive Council. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  10. Forestry (Re-Distribution of Public Services) Order 1933 (S.R.O. No. 158 of 1933). Signed on 1 December 1933. Statutory Rules and Orders of the Executive Council. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 17 January 2021.
  11. Fisheries (Re-Distribution of Public Services) Order 1934 (S.R.O. No. 40 of 1934). Signed on 27 March 1934. Statutory Rules and Orders of the Executive Council. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 August 2020.
  12. Fisheries (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1957 (S.I. No. 67 of 1957). Signed on 2 April 1957. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 August 2020.
  13. Fisheries (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1965 (S.I. No. 83 of 1965). Signed on 3 May 1965. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  14. Lands (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1977 (S.I. No. 28 of 1977). Signed on 8 February 1977. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  15. Fisheries (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1977 (S.I. No. 30 of 1977). Signed on 8 February 1977. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  16. Lands (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1977 (S.I. No. 29 of 1977). Signed on 8 February 1977. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  17. Fisheries (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1978 (S.I. No. 195 of 1978). Signed on 18 February 1978. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  18. Tourism (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 1986 (S.I. No. 42 of 1986). Signed on 18 February 1986. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  19. Fisheries and Forestry (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1986 (S.I. No. 40 of 1986). Signed on 18 February 1986. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  20. Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1987 (S.I. No. 82 of 1987). Signed on 19 March 1987. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  21. Communications (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1987 (S.I. No. 91 of 1987). Signed on 31 March 1987. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  22. Tourism (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1987 (S.I. No. 95 of 1987). Signed on 31 March 1987. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  23. Forestry and Wildlife (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1987 (S.I. No. 96 of 1987). Signed on 31 March 1987. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  24. Forestry (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 300 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  25. Marine (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 301 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  26. Exploration and Mining (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 314 of 1997). Signed on 15 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  27. Petroleum and Offshore Exploration (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 429 of 1997). Signed on 30 September 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  28. Broadcasting (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 299 of 2002). Signed on 18 June 2002. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 18 July 2020.
  29. Communications, Energy and Geological Survey of Ireland (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 300 of 2002). Signed on 30 September 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  30. Marine and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 307 of 2002). Signed on 18 June 2002. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  31. Forestry (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2003 (S.I. No. 691 of 2003). Signed on 9 October 2007. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 2 February 2024.
  32. Sea Fisheries, foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 707 of 2007). Signed on 9 October 2007. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  33. Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 706 of 2007). Signed on 9 October 2007. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  34. Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2007, s. 25: Amendment of Ordnance Survey Ireland Act 2001 (No. 37 of 2007, s. 25). Enacted on 31 October 2007. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 17 September 2020.
  35. Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 730 of 2007). Signed on 1 November 2007. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 17 September 2020.
  36. Ordnance Survey Ireland (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 637 of 2015). Signed on 1 December 2015. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 17 September 2020.
  37. Climate Action and Environment (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 393 of 2016). Signed on 19 July 2016. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  38. Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 421 of 2016). Signed on 19 July 2016. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
  39. Broadcasting (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 372 of 2020). Signed on 22 September 2020. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 13 July 2025.
  40. Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 373 of 2020). Signed on 22 September 2020. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 13 July 2025.
  41. Cyber Security (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 234 of 2025). Signed on 27 May 2025. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 8 July 2025.
  42. Telecommunications (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 237 of 2025). Signed on 27 May 2025. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 13 July 2025.
  43. Environment, Climate and Communications (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 235 of 2025). Signed on 27 May 2025. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 13 July 2025.
  44. Marine Environment (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 390 of 2025). Signed on 22 July 2025. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 1 September 2025.
External links