119. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if, under the environmental liability Directive and its iterations, environmental liability insurance exists; if there is published guidance on the financial provision for environmental liability; and if so, whether such guidance is published. [41014/24]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) manages a Financial Provision regime whereby some priority EPA licensees are required to put in place financial provision to cover potential environmental liabilities that could arise in the event of the licensee not being in a position to meet them.

The list of obligated licensees is at the link below. The link also contains the instrument or instruments put in place by each licensee and the value of those instruments.

EPA Facilities/Installations with Financial Provision Requirements 31/03/24 | Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.ie/publications/compliance--enforcement/licensees/reporting/financial-provisions/epa-facilitiesinstallations-with-financial-provision-requirements-310324.php)

The EPA has published several guidance documents for licensees who are obligated for putting financial provisions in place. The guidance covers such topics as:

• The EPA’s approach to Financial Provision, setting out the seven priority sectors that should be covered. EPA_-Approach_to_Environmental_Liabilities_and_Financial_Provision.pdf (www.epa.ie/publications/compliance--enforcement/licensees/reporting/financial-provisions/EPA_-Approach_to_Environmental_Liabilities_and_Financial_Provision.pdf)

• Guidance on the kind of instruments available and what they can be used for: financiaprovisionsreport.pdf (epa.ie) (www.epa.ie/publications/compliance--enforcement/licensees/reporting/financial-provisions/financiaprovisionsreport.pdf)

These, and other guidance documents may be found here: Financial provision for environmental liabilities | Environmental Protection Agency (epa.ie) (www.epa.ie/our-services/compliance--enforcement/industry-and-waste-management/financial-provision-for-environmental-liabilities/)

Environmental liability insurance is just one type of instrument used by licensees. Others instruments include bonds, secured funds and parent company guarantees. Several licensees use insurance to cover the risk of environmental damage occurring in the event of incidents or accidents.