The environment goods and services gross output was just over $7 billion (€6.6 billion) in 2019, according to new figures.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) released its environment goods and services sector output figures for 2019 on Tuesday.
Gerard Keogh, statistician in the environment and climate division, said the estimated gross output in environment goods and services was $6 billion (€5.6 billion) in 2010 – falling to $5.5 billion (€5.2 billion) in 2012.
“As a percentage of national output (modified gross national income), estimated gross output in environment goods and services in 2019 was 3.1 per cent,” Mr Keogh said.
Renewable energy production increased from $1.5 billion (€1.4 billion) in 2017 to $2.25 billion (€2.1 billion) in 2018 and then fell back to $1.7 billion (€1.6 billion) in 2019
, according to the CSO.The increase in 2018 was attributed to a high level of accrued investment in renewable energy.
Gross value added and (full-time equivalents) employment also showed large increases in 2018, in line with gross output.
Estimated environment goods and services gross output by the industry sector was $5.9 billion (€5.5 billion) in 2019.
The percentage share of gross output in environment goods and services by the industry sector was 84 per cent in 2019.
Construction accounted for $1.8 billion (€1.7 billion), or 31 per cent of output by the industry sector.
Estimated gross value added (GVA) in environment goods and services in 2019 was $3.4 billion (€3.2 billion).
As a percentage of environment goods and services gross output, GVA was 48 per cent in 2019.
The estimated GVA by the industry sector was $2.8 billion (€2.5 billion) in 2019. The percentage share of GVA by the industry sector was 79 per cent in 2019.
The estimated (full-time equivalents) employment in environment goods and services was 37,400 in 2019. This was a 5.2 per cent reduction on employment in 2018.
Meanwhile, the estimated employment by the industry sector was 27,800 in 2019.