Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 July 2020
19. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the mission statement of his Department with particular reference to the main components of his brief; the timescale within which he expects to be in a position to achieve his targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16050/20]
View answerI am happy for the Minister to provide a written reply, or he can read the reply into the record.
The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future sets out the Government's response to the significant challenges facing the country including the fallout from Covid-19, decarbonising our economy and creating a sustainable future for all. My Department is central to many of the transformative changes envisaged in the programme including climate action and the digital agenda.
Programme for Government commitments will be incorporated into a new statement of strategy for my Department, required under the Public Service Management Act 1997. The new strategy, which will be published within six months, will set out our vision and mission for the next three years across a broad portfolio, encompassing climate action, energy, communications networks, environment, waste management and natural resources. It will reflect the commitments to be delivered over the five-year lifetime of the programme for Government. This includes: a national clean air strategy; seeking to accelerate the roll-out of the national broadband plan, achieving an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030; delivering a national aggregated model of retrofitting reaching more than 500,000 homes by 2030; developing a major drive to realise the immense potential of Ireland’s offshore renewable sector; enacting the climate action (amendment) Bill; and completing and implementing a major waste and circular economy action plan.
The statement of strategy will be developed in consultation with interested stakeholders and will identify the steps required to ensure that the commitments set out in the programme for Government are achieved. When complete, the statement of strategy will be presented to both Houses. My Department will commence work with this shortly.
