Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
236. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding provided by his Department to An Taisce in each of the years 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18838/21]
View answer252. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated amount of State funding provided by his Department to An Taisce each year for the past five years; if he has concerns regarding An Taisce’s remit and ability to cause huge delays to developments of significant importance to the farming community in the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19287/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 252 together.
While as the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, I have no legal function in relation to An Taisce, my Department provides it with funding for a variety of initiatives, including the National Spring Clean; the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) National Litter League; and the Green Schools programme. A total of €5.4 million has been provided between 2012 and 2020 in respect of a range of such environmental activities and public awareness initiatives, with total annual allocations set out in the table below:
|
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
Total |
|
€753,200 |
€736,800 |
€415,000 |
€403,000 |
€408,000 |
€596,280 |
€671,683 |
€697,710 |
€675,474 |
€5,357,147 |
The estimated allocation for 2021 is in line with the 2020 allocation of €675,000. Final details on payments in 2021 will not be available until the end of the year.
An Taisce is a non-governmental organisation active in the areas of the environment and built heritage in Ireland. The link to the website of the organisation https://www.antaisce.org/
may be helpful to the Deputy.
