Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 April 2018
47. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if an all-of-government approach to the issue of climate change is being taken in view of the climate ambition of An Taoiseach. [17851/18]
View answer202. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans in the context of climate action with a view to meeting the various challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18319/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 202 together.
I published Ireland's first statutory National Mitigation Plan in July 2017. This is a whole-of-Government Plan, reflecting in particular the central roles of the Ministers responsible for the sectors covered by the Plan (Electricity Generation, the Built Environment, Transport and Agriculture, Forestry and Land Use), and drawing on the perspectives of a range of other Departments. The Plan is a living document that will be updated as on-going analysis, dialogue and technological innovation generate more and more cost-effective sectoral mitigation options.
I subsequently published Ireland’s first statutory National Adaptation Framework in January 2018.The Framework sets out the national strategy to reduce the vulnerability of the country to the negative effects of climate change and to avail of positive impacts. Under the Framework, seven Government Departments and Agencies, with responsibility for the twelve priority sectors identified in the Framework, will be required to prepare sectoral adaptation plans in line with the requirements of the Climate Act and Framework policies.
Implementation of the both National Mitigation Plan and National Adaptation Framework is overseen by a High Level Climate Action Steering Group which I chair and which reports, in turn, to the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, Environment and Climate Action.
Building on these strategies, the publication in February of the National Development Plan, will lead to a significant step change in funding available for climate action over the next decade with a strong focus on strategic investments in the areas of transport, renewable energy, grid development and interconnection, the built environment, and flood risk management, to address the significant climate change challenges that Ireland faces. Almost €22 billion will be directed, between Exchequer and non-Exchequer resources, to addressing the transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient society. In addition, the NDP allocated a further €8.6 billion for investments in sustainable mobility. This capital investment will enable us to deliver a significant reduction in our greenhouse gas emissions over the period to 2030.
