Environmentalists want increased funding for nature restoration
The Environmental Pillar has called for the government to increase funding for nature restoration projects.
The group said that the gap between Ireland's "stated" climate ambitions and the real-world implementation of those targets is widening.
Speaking at the the National Economic Dialogue today (June 16), it called for Ireland to "invest wisely" in climate action, nature restoration, create a fairer tax system and provide for a just and equal society, rather than "wasting billions in public money" buying carbon credits in the future.
According to the environmentalist group, there is mounting evidence, and a strong public mandate, for climate and environmental action.
However, it believes progress remains "painfully slow", and in some areas, "alarmingly regressive".
A spokesperson for the Environmental Pillar, Oisin Coghlan said: "Most representative groups at the National Economic Dialogue start by saying what they think the government should spend more money on.
“This year, the Environmental Pillar’s first advice to government is what not to spend money on. Don’t spend €8 to €26 billion on the bill we currently face for missing our climate pollution targets, according to the recent Fiscal Advisory Council report.
"Far better for the government to invest now in helping people have warmer homes with lower energy bills, clean power and cleaner air, and much more public transport."
The Environment Pillar has called for the government to invest in "improving the quality of life" in Ireland.
According to the environmentalist group, with Budget 2026 approaching it is not enough to rely on policy statements, roadmaps, or incremental funding commitments.
It believes that the scale of the climate crises demands "transformative action", and that Ireland must "dramatically increase" funding for nature restoration across peatlands, farmlands, rivers, woodlands, coastal and marine environments.
BirdWatch Ireland is a member organisation of the Environmental Pillar steering committee.
The head of advocacy at BirdWatch Ireland, Oonagh Duggan said: "At a minimum, €463.5 million annually is needed to support this work at the necessary scale, according to the financial needs assessments commissioned by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
"This is not just about spending more, but about spending wisely—on long-term, multi-annual programmes that build ecological resilience, create green jobs, and restore public and landowners trust in environmental governance,” she added.
