Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 November 2021
171. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to define a set of metrics to accurately quantify the cost of extreme weather events to the State in terms of both revenues lost and the cost of repairs as per action 293 of the Climate Action Plan 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56022/21]
View answerI would like to thank Deputy Hourigan for asking this question. Climate adaptation is a very important topic which is often overshadowed by climate mitigation.
When developing the ‘Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan for Transport’, my Department identified that a common set of metrics to accurately quantify the cost of extreme weather events to the transport sector was needed. Currently, no such set of metrics exists and each transport entity uses its own set of metrics to quantify costs. This can make it difficult to accurately quantify the costs after extreme weather events such as Storm Ophelia. This was a key action arising from the Adaptation Plan. It was also deemed to be an important action for the Climate Action Plan 2021.
To progress this action, my Department will begin this work in 2021 with a view to having it completed within a 12 month timeframe. In doing so, we will engage with the relevant stakeholders where necessary.
