Written Answers Nos. 201-223
201. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports his Department offers for start-ups that can be accessed by persons in receipt of illness benefit when they are trying to start a business themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4752/22]
View answerThe Local Enterprise Offices act as a ‘first stop shop’ providing advice and guidance, financial assistance, and other supports to anyone wishing to start or grow their own business. The Local Enterprise Office can offer direct grant aid to microenterprises (10 employees or fewer) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities and all schemes and grants can be availed of by any business that meets the relevant eligibility criteria.
The Local Enterprise Offices offer Feasibility Grants to help start-up companies or individual entrepreneurs with the cost of researching their proposed business idea to ascertain its viability and sustainability and Priming Grants, which aim to help with the associated costs of start-up.
However, it should be noted that the Local Enterprise Offices do not provide direct grant-aid to areas such as retail, personal services, local professional services or local building services, as it may give rise to the displacement of existing businesses.
The Local Enterprise Offices provide a wide range of high-quality business and management development programmes that are tailored to meet specific business requirements. Whether it is starting a business or growing a business there is something suitable for anyone exploring self-employment as an option.
In particular, I would encourage any person starting a business to enquire about the Start Your Own Business Programme. The objective is to assist clients in assessing their business idea, its viability and helps them decide if they should proceed or take a step back. The programme covers topics such as Starting up / getting started, Identifying, understanding, and researching your target market, Developing your Business Plan amongst other vital areas of interest to a new business.
I would also suggest seeking the advice of a LEO Business Mentor; the Mentor programme is open to both new and existing businesses located within the Local Enterprise Office region and is designed to match up the knowledge, skills, insights and entrepreneurial capability of experienced business practitioners with small business owner/ managers who need practical and strategic one to one advice and guidance. The mentor contributes independent, informed observation and advice to aid decision making.
Mentors can also advise on finance options available to entrepreneurs and can assist with applications and referrals to Micro-Finance Ireland, which provides vital support to eligible microenterprises by lending to businesses that cannot obtain loans from other commercial lenders and who do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by commercial lenders. It offers loan funding, including Start-up Loans, from €5,000 to €25,000.
Furthermore, the Department of Social Protection offers the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme. This scheme encourages people currently receiving certain social welfare payments to become self-employed. The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme is a payment made by the Department of Social Protection to people aged under 66. You can qualify for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance if you are qualifying from Illness Benefit and are in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment 3 out of the last 5 years. If you take part in the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme you can keep a percentage of your social welfare payment for up to 2 years.
202. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a list of Acts, or sections or other provisions of Acts, for which a commencement order has yet to be signed in his Department; the reason for the delay; when commencement orders will be signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4758/22]
View answerThe following Acts or sections of Acts under the remit of my Department have been signed into law but not commenced.
|
Act |
Section not commenced |
Reason |
Action |
|
The Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Act 2021 |
This Act was signed into law on the 22nd December 2021 |
Work is underway to develop the relevant orders and other matters necessary to commence the Act’s provisions. |
|
|
Employment Permits (Amendment) Act 2014 |
Section 15 5(b) and (6) |
Not commenced at the time as operational systems needed to be amended to support the change. |
Part of broader considerations under the Employment Permits (Consolidation and Amendment) Bill |
|
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 |
Section 4(2) |
Not commenced in respect of the following Acts, provisions of which are still required Dangerous Substances Acts 1972 and 1979, Safety, Health and Welfare (Offshore Installations) Acts 1987 and 1995 and Safety in Industry Acts 1955 and 1980. |
There is no current timeline for the Revocation of this legislation. It will be revoked when the opportunity arises. |
|
Dangerous Substances Act 1972 |
Section 7 (1), Section 7 (2) and section 9 (1). |
Relate to explosives which are regulated by other legislation of the Department of Justice |
There are no plans to introduce a commencement order for these sections of this Act. |
|
Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 |
Section 98 Section 199 Section 247 |
There is no intention to commence these sections barring exceptional circumstances |
There are currently no plans to commence these sections of the Act. |
203. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of claims assessed by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board which resulted in no award being made in each of the years from 2019 to 2021; the reasons no awards were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4886/22]
View answerFor the period 2019 to 2021 the number of assessments made by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) which resulted in a nil value award being made are listed in the table below.
The table also lists the number of assessments made by PIAB that were rejected by either party (Claimants/Respondents).
|
- |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Number of zero assessments (nil value €0 awards) |
53* |
4 |
2 |
|
Number of assessments not accepted (rejected awards) |
5,417 |
4,221 |
4491** |
* One of these 53 cases was an assessment made in 2018 but issued in 2019.
** Not a final tally – full figures not yet available.
For the cases in 2019 and 2020 the nil value awards were made due to insufficient evidence to make a reasonable assessment (usually involving non-attendance at medical examinations). The Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Act 2019 inserted Section 51C into the Primary Act which provides discretion to the courts to make no award of costs where a claimant or respondent fails to comply with the request of a PIAB assessor including the non-attendance at medicals of a claimant.
The two cases of nil value awards in 2021 were made under the new personal injuries guidelines which commenced from the 24th of April 2021 and based on the medical evidence and the guidelines did not warrant an assessment of damages.
With regard to assessments not accepted in the time period, it is open to either party to accept or reject an assessment made by PIAB.
204. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the ministerial regulations relating to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board currently in force require the board to keep a record of claims which, based on its assessment, are considered to have been fraudulent or based on false or misleading evidence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4887/22]
View answerPIAB is an independent statutory body which assesses personal injuries compensation in a timely and cost-efficient manner. PIAB is an administrative body that assesses claims based on the personal injuries guidelines and only where both parties, namely the claimant and respondent, consent to an assessment. PIAB does not investigate the circumstances of claims nor address the issue of liability or fraud.
Under the PIAB process a respondent has 90 days to carry out an appropriate examination of the facts relating to a claim before deciding whether to proceed with the PIAB process or not. By proceeding with the PIAB process, the respondent would have considered the claimant’s case and satisfied itself of the merits or otherwise of it. Where liability is an issue, or the circumstances of a claim are disputed, the respondent, generally an insurer, will refuse an assessment by PIAB. In those circumstances PIAB will release the case and provide an authorisation to a claimant to proceed to litigation if they so wish.
Cases that proceed to Court are subject to the Civil Liability and Courts Act, 2004. Section 14 of the Act provides that any party to a personal injuries action who has falsely sworn an affidavit is guilty of an offence; Sections 25 and 26 address the matter of false evidence and fraudulent actions and Section 29 sets out the penalties for persons found guilty of such acts, including fines of up to €100,000 and/or up to 10 years in prison.
The investigation of fraud is a matter for An Garda Síochána. Any individual or company who believes that they are the victim of a fraud should report it to the Gardaí. PIAB co-operate fully with any requests for information from the Gardaí.
A range of actions to mitigate insurance fraud are being implemented through the Government’s ‘Action Plan for Insurance Reform’. Actions already achieved include the signing into law on the 21st of June 2021 of the Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Act 2021. This Act provides for considerable penalties against those who commit the offence of perjury and related offences. The establishment of the specialised Insurance Fraud Coordination Office within the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) is also significant and provides for a more coordinated approach to the reporting of cases from the insurance industry.
205. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is satisfied that referrals to the Workplace Relations Commission are being dealt with within satisfactory timeframes; his plans to address backlogs in cases; the position regarding the open competition which closed on 11 March 2021 and the appointments process for workplace adjudicators in the Workplace Relations Commission; when appointments from the panel formed by this process will be made; the number of appointments that will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5139/22]
View answerSimilar to other adjudicative bodies, the impact of Covid-19, and the occasioned restrictions on in-person hearings, has disrupted the scheduling of complaints submitted to the WRC quite significantly.
The introduction of new procedures to facilitate the administration of an oath or the requirement to reschedule part heard cases before a new Adjudication Officer, required following a Supreme Court judgment last year, also impacted on the scheduling of cases in 2021.
However, the WRC, to minimise delay to the parties, established a remote hearing platform shortly after Covid-19 required the immediate cessation of in-person hearings. Almost all hearings that have taken place over the past 18 months have been carried out via that platform. In that time, on average, the WRC has been offering between 120-135 hearings per week.
As Covid restrictions continue to ease the WRC will bring forward for early disposal those cases that are not suited to virtual hearing.
My Department has provided additional resources to assist the WRC in this regard, and some six staff have been assigned to assist in the scheduling and overseeing the proper conduct of remote hearings – these are more resource-heavy than in-person hearings – and an additional eight Adjudication Officers were recruited recently bringing the overall number of such Officers (both permanent and contract) to fifty six an increase of 55% since the WRC was first established in 2015.
My Department will continue to work closely with the WRC to ensure that it is fully resourced to carry out its important work.
206. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement his Department has had to date with the SME growth task force proposed in the programme for government. [5151/22]
View answerThe SME Growth Taskforce of entrepreneurs, business leaders and other stakeholders was established by the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar TD, in September 2020 to fulfil the commitment made in the Programme for Government to draw up an ambitious long-term strategic blueprint for SMEs and entrepreneurs beyond COVID-19.
Between September and December 2020, the SME Taskforce, which was assisted by four dedicated subgroups, developed a range of recommendations to build a better business and regulatory environment for our SMEs and entrepreneurs.
This work was informed by the comprehensive OECD Review of SME and Entrepreneurship Policy in Ireland 2019, which provided a hugely informative, objective, and deeply-researched evidence base on the challenges and opportunities for the SME and entrepreneurship sector in Ireland.
The work of the SME Taskforce resulted in its finalisation and adoption of the SME and Entrepreneurship Growth Plan in December 2020, which was subsequently published in January 2021.
To ensure that the substance and vision of the Growth Plan continued to move forward, and to facilitate further detailed analysis of its recommendations, an SME and Entrepreneurship Implementation Group was established in early February 2021.
I chair this Implementation Group along with my colleague, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Robert Troy TD.
The Implementation Group met on six occasions between February and September 2021 to discuss progress on thematic areas arising from the recommendations in the SME and Entrepreneurship Growth Plan . As part of these sessions, the Implementation Group invited participation from Government Departments and Agencies responsible for delivery of specific actions.
This engagement resulted in the identification of ten priority areas where the Implementation Group felt that significant progress can be made in the shorter term. This list of priorities was discussed in further detail at a specially convened meeting of the SME Taskforce on 16 September 2021.
These priority areas relate to the following: access to finance; digital transformation; increasing first time exporters; enhanced assistance for high-potential businesses; clustering and networks; SME management skills; reducing the regulatory burden on SMEs; delivery of a single portal for business information and assistance; ensuring comprehensive enterprise agency coverage for SMEs; and increased SME participation in public procurement.
The Implementation Group will monitor progress on actions relevant to these areas over the course of this year, in consultation with the SME Taskforce, DETE, its enterprise agencies and other State bodies.
A report on progress on the priority areas will be brought to Government in Q4 2022 and published thereafter.
207. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of Environmental Protection Agency official air quality monitoring systems; and the location of each. [4249/22]
View answer208. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way that areas are chosen for Environmental Protection Agency official air quality monitoring systems. [4250/22]
View answer209. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the proposed locations of new Environmental Protection Agency air quality monitoring systems. [4251/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions No. 207, 208, and 209 together.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for monitoring ambient air quality in Ireland via the national Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme 2017-2022 (AAMP). Under this programme the national monitoring network has undergone a significant upgrade in recent years and has been expanded from 29 stations in 2017 to 97 today. The final expansion of the network will be completed this year and will increase the number of official stations to 110.
All stations collect air quality data for a range of pollutants in order to provide information to the public, and for assessment against European legal limit values and World Health Organisation guideline values. Details of the locations of all monitoring stations, along with real-time and historic data from each station, can be found at www.airquality.ie
I have no function in determining the location of monitoring stations. The AAMP is operated by the EPA who determine the most appropriate locations based on best practice and EU requirements. Accordingly, new monitoring station locations are selected by the EPA and questions in relation to proposed sites may be addressed to them directly.
210. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a schedule of all of the information disclosed by his Department to the Commission for Communications Regulation regarding the 2019 national broadband plan mapping exercise. [4268/22]
View answer211. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the nature and detail of the information disclosed by his Department to the Commission for Communications Regulation regarding the mapping submissions his Department received in its conclusion of the national broadband plan mapping exercise in 2019. [4269/22]
View answer212. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a schedule of communications between his Department and the Commission for Communications Regulation from the start of the national broadband plan mapping exercise in July 2019 and the approval of the commission in December 2019, in tabular form. [4270/22]
View answer213. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department disclosed and or forwarded the mapping submissions of the operators in relation to the national broadband pan to the Commission for Communications Regulation in the period of 30 September 2019 and 15 November 2019. [4271/22]
View answer214. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will publish the reports, presentations and assurances given and dates of their first disclosure and communication by his Department including its advisers and or consultants as they relate to the national broadband plan mapping exercise to the Commission for Communications Regulation in the period 26 July 2019 and 15 November 2019. [4272/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 210 to 214, inclusive, together.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is a Government policy initiative that is being achieved through a combination of accelerated commercial investment by telecoms operators, and a State intervention.
Information regarding the NBP is available on the Department’s website at www.broadband.gov.ie. As a State intervention, the NBP must comply with the requirements of the European Commission’s State Aid Guidelines (SAG) on the application of the State aid rules to broadband networks. The SAG requires, amongst other things, that Member States carry out a detailed mapping exercise and public consultation process to identify, as far as reasonably possible, those areas where intervention is required.
Since 2013, the Department has engaged in an extensive Mapping Process to map broadband availability across Ireland, in order to identify which geographic areas already have or will have access to Next Generation Access (NGA) broadband services, i.e. a broadband service delivering at least 30Mbps download speeds and which areas required intervention from the State. Extensive information has been published at every stage of the overall NBP process, including each iteration of the NBP Map and extensive information on the Mapping Process and the development of the NBP Map itself. This information can be found at www.broadband.gov.ie.
The mapping process included a number of public consultations conducted over a six year period from 2013 to 2019. The most recent public consultation was in November 2019, which aimed to finalise the NBP Map in advance of signing the NBP contract. This public consultation confirmed the existing and planned coverage of NGA broadband services across Ireland. It relied on the most up to date information available, shared by commercial operators, of their existing and planned broadband services. The Department undertook an analysis of this information and determined where NGA broadband services existed and where it was planned. For example, in some cases, certain operators claimed they were already delivering NGA broadband services whereas the Department determined that, in fact, they were not.
The content of the operator submissions broadly included details of the operator’s network design, technology solution, coverage area of the operator’s network, the location and number of sites etc as well as their plans for future deployments if available.
Certain operator submissions claimed that NGA broadband services were already in place across the vast majority of rural Ireland and that there was no need for any State intervention in most rural areas, whereas other operators recognised the deficit in NGA broadband services and supported the State’s planned intervention.
Since 2013 and in line with SAG recommendations, the Department has consulted with ComReg on the NBP mapping at every stage of the process. The Department and ComReg established an NBP Expert Group, to have engagement on the key issues and areas relevant to the NBP Intervention, including the Mapping Process.
In 2019 consistent with ComReg’s role on the NBP Expert Group, ComReg was provided with copies of all operators submissions to the 2019 consultation. These comprised of 29 operator submissions and one group submission representing 28 fixed wireless operators. ComReg supported by their own advisors provided a number of observations on the analysis and draft findings, which were then taken into account when arriving at the conclusion of the Mapping process.
Each operator was subsequently informed of the outcome of the analysis and the conclusion as to whether their existing and/or planned coverage was accepted as delivering NGA broadband services or not. The NBP Map was then updated and republished with the most up to date information. The NBP Map can be found at www.broadband.gov.ie.
Copies of these operator submissions are already published on my Department’s website in the Consultation Submission section of the 2019 Mapping Consultation page at www.gov.ie/en/consultation/61fcf-consultation-on-conclusion-of-the-nbp-mapping-exercise-for-the-intervention-area/.
In addition, the overall findings and conclusion of the 2019 NBP Mapping Consultation Summary of Findings Report, can be found in the Update 17 December 2019 – Summary of Findings section of the 2019 Mapping Consultation page at www.gov.ie/en/consultation/61fcf-consultation-on-conclusion-of-the-nbp-mapping-exercise-for-the-intervention-area/ .
ComReg overall expert opinion is also already published on both ComReg’s and the Department’s website and can be found in the Update 17 December 2019 – Summary of Findings section of the 2019 Mapping Consultation page at www.gov.ie/en/consultation/61fcf-consultation-on-conclusion-of-the-nbp-mapping-exercise-for-the-intervention-area/.
215. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the final draft of the renewable electricity support scheme terms and conditions will be published; the number of submissions that were made as part of the public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4294/22]
View answerMy Department is developing Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auctions both for onshore and offshore renewables. The public consultation on the draft terms and conditions of the next onshore auction, RESS 2, received 61 submissions. Following consideration of these submissions, final terms and conditions for this auction were approved by Government and published on my Department's website last October.
A public consultation was also recently hosted by my Department on the draft terms and conditions for the first offshore wind-specific RESS auction, ORESS 1. This consultation received 156 submissions. These submissions are currently under review and my Department will issue a response shortly before seeking Government approval to final terms and conditions in Quarter 2 as per the timeline in the 2021 Climate Action Plan.
216. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of consultations that have taken place in relation to the development of the national clean air strategy; the way they have been incorporated into Government policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4302/22]
View answer217. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the consultation on the national clean air strategy will commence; the timeline for the consultation and for the strategy, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4303/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together.
A public consultation on a Clean Air Strategy was undertaken in 2017 and some 116 submissions were received, which informed the development of a subsequent draft of the Strategy. Given the significant progress that has been made since then in improving our ambient air monitoring programme, the extension of low smoke zones, and specific Programme for Government commitments to improve the quality of our air, a review of the previous strategy has been required.
This has enabled us to incorporate the findings of the public consultation on a new solid fuel regulation for Ireland and capture the positive impacts that the measures provided for in the Climate Action Plan 2021 will have on the quality of our air. The Strategy will also outline how we will enhance and protect the air we breathe, and set out a pathway, based on a comprehensive cross-Government programme of policies and measures, that will tackle all sources of air pollution.
I intend to launch a public consultation on this Strategy in the coming weeks, and precise timelines will be announced in due course.
218. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that are being taken to progress the new just transition commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4308/22]
View answer219. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the drafting of legislation to establish a just transition commissioner on a statutory footing due by quarter 4 2022 as set out in the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4309/22]
View answer220. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the final report of the just transition commissioner due in quarter 4 of 2021 as set out in the Climate Action Plan will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4310/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 218 to 220, inclusive, together.
Mr. Kieran Mulvey was appointed as Just Transition Commissioner by the Government in November 2019 with the mandate to engage with those affected by the accelerated exit from peat for electricity generation in the Midlands region, and to recommend to Government the essential elements of a just transition for those workers and communities. The Commissioner has made an important contribution to the Government's overall just transition response in the Midlands region, helping to facilitate dialogue, and bringing forward concerns from affected communities, residents, workers, and businesses. I have received the Commissioner’s fourth progress report and I intend to publish it shortly. The Government has responded to the recommendations contained in the Commissioner’s earlier reports through the Midlands Implementation Plan, published as part of the Government’s Climate Action Plan 2021.The Government has committed, through the 2021 Climate Action Plan, to establishing a statutory Just Transition Commission, with the general scheme of legislation to establish the Commission to be completed by the end of this year. The Climate Action Plan sets out that the purpose of this Commission will be to provide strategic advice to Government, integrating its role with existing governance and engagement structures, on how Government policy can further a just transition.
I intend to progress and develop proposals on the mandate of the statutory Just Transition Commission during the course of 2022 in advance of preparing the general scheme of legislation. In this context, and building on the work that he has undertaken to date in relation to the Midlands region, I intend that Mr. Mulvey will continue to support me in an advisory capacity on the development of policy to underpin the proposed statutory Just Transition Commission .
221. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when funding agreements to successful projects under the Just Transition Fund will be issued and finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4312/22]
View answerThe Government remains committed to a just transition in the Midlands region and has dedicated significant funding to supporting workers, companies and communities affected by the closure of the peat-fired power stations and the end of peat extraction by Bord na Móna. To date, my Department has finalised grant agreements with 54 Just Transition Fund projects. The total value of projects in delivery is approximately €30 million, with €20.5 million of this to be provided by the National Just Transition Fund. These projects have reported that they will create an estimated 154 direct jobs and 932 indirect jobs. My Department is working with a small number of remaining applicants with a view to finalising grant agreements with these projects in the coming weeks. Further information on approved projects is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/ed10d-just-transition-fund/.
222. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the territorial just transition plan and operational programme; when he envisages this will be submitted to the European Commission for approval as set out in the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4313/22]
View answerThe EU Just Transition Fund is a newly established fund for the 2021-2027 period, operating within the framework of EU cohesion policy. The Just Transition Fund seeks to address the adverse effects of the climate transition by supporting the most affected territories and workers concerned and to promote a balanced socio-economic transition. Ireland must prepare a Territorial Just Transition Plan and accompanying programme, for approval by the European Commission, in order to secure access to its allocation of €84.5 million under the EU Just Transition Fund. This plan and programme will set out Ireland’s proposed investment priorities as well as targeted sectors and regions. I have appointed the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) as managing authority for the fund, and my Department and the EMRA are jointly developing the Territorial Just Transition Plan and Programme.
I launched a public consultation on a draft of the Territorial Just Transition Plan on 20 December and this will remain open until 14 February. The draft plan provisionally identifies East Galway, North Tipperary, Longford, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, West Kildare and Roscommon as the functional territory to be targeted for investment under the plan.
Feedback on the draft plan is being gathered through an online survey as well as through online workshops open to interested stakeholders. A dedicated workshop is also planned to gather the views of young people aged 16-24 who are living, working, or studying in the wider Midlands region. The online survey seeks views on the impact of the climate transition, the development needs of the wider Midlands region, and comments on the draft Territorial Just Transition Plan. My Department and the EMRA have also held dedicated briefing sessions, respectively, for members of the Oireachtas and for members and staff of relevant Local Authorities from the identified counties.
The responses to the public consultation will be used to further develop and finalise the draft Territorial Just Transition Plan before it is agreed by the Government and submitted, together with the EU Just Transition Fund programme, to the European Commission for approval during the course of 2022.
223. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of preparations for a youth climate assembly due in the second quarter of 2022 as set out in the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4314/22]
View answerThe National Youth Climate Assembly is a core deliverable of the Programme for Government and the National Dialogue on Climate Action. It is a collaboration between my Department and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and will be an annual event.The National Youth Climate Assembly will be comprised of 40 young people aged between 12 and 24 years of age who have been nominated by relevant organisations, including Comhairle na nÓg, youth organisations, student bodies, and community groups. The assembly will capture the voices of young people in Ireland on issues relating to climate change that are important to them. It will act as a central mechanism to include these opinions in the development of the annual Climate Action Plan and related sectoral policies. It is currently in the final stages of preparation with plans to hold the first assembly by the end of March.
