Summary: The Irish government has unveiled a new Sectoral Adaptation Plan (SAP) for communications networks, designed to safeguard essential services against extreme weather. The plan, published on November 14, 2025, outlines measures to strengthen resilience in the face of climate change, following recent storms that exposed vulnerabilities in national infrastructure.
The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport has approved the publication of Ireland’s Sectoral Adaptation Plan for Communication Networks, a key milestone under the National Adaptation Framework. The plan aims to ensure that telecommunications systems remain robust as climate risks intensify.
Ireland has already witnessed the disruptive impact of climate change. Flooding in Midleton during Storm Babet in 2023 and the destructive winds of Storm Éowyn in 2025 caused significant damage to infrastructure, highlighting the fragility of networks when they are most needed.
The updated SAP sets out a framework to:
- Strengthen resilience of telecoms infrastructure against flooding, extreme winds, and coastal erosion.
- Safeguard essential services for citizens and businesses during climate emergencies.
- Promote collaboration between government, regulators, and industry partners.
- Coordinate response efforts through the newly formed Telecommunications Response and Resilience Group (T-RRG).
Taoiseach Micheál Martin emphasized the urgency of adaptation, stating: “Failure to act is a risk too great for our people, our society and our economy. More severe storm damage, flooding, drought and coastal erosion threaten our homes, businesses and infrastructure. We must continue to build climate resilience.”
Minister for Communications Patrick O’Donovan added: “The Communication Networks SAP provides a strong framework to guide the sector over the coming years. Storm Éowyn underscored the importance of implementing a strong plan. This ensures meaningful attention is given to the physical resilience of our telecoms networks.”
The unveiling of the SAP signals Ireland’s commitment to building climate-resilient communications systems, ensuring that vital networks remain operational in the face of increasingly severe weather events.
