Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 February 2022
473. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress made by her Department in respect of its targets and goals set out in the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development under the policy remit of her Department; if these targets and goals will be met by their respective deadlines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7285/22]
View answerA renewed focus is currently being given to progressing Ireland’s commitment to Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. Substantial progress has been achieved in recent months in respect of reviewing Ireland’s implementation of Agenda 2030 and identifying key priorities and actions for inclusion in the next National Implementation Plan. It is intended that the draft Plan will be made available shortly and form the basis of discussion at the next SDG National Stakeholder Forum. This will allow for a final round of input from stakeholders prior to finalisation and publication.
Ireland has adopted a ‘whole-of-Government’ approach to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with each Minister having responsibility for implementing individual SDG targets related to their functions. My Department has made the following progress in implementing those targets:
Our Rural Future, a new 5-year Rural Development Policy, focusing on the sustainable social, economic and environmental development of rural Ireland was published in March 2021. The policy outlines over 150 measures for delivery during that timeframe, each of which are directly linked to at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal.
The high-level objectives and actions set out in the Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities A five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland 2019-2024 support consultation, inclusion and participation of communities in public policy and decision-making at all levels and supports the implementation of SDG 4 Quality Education, SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13 Climate Action, SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
The National Volunteering Strategy supports SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities. The Strategic Objectives outlined in the strategy support the community, voluntary and charity sector and strengthen its capacity to contribute to civil society.
The SDGs are mainstreamed into the National Social Enterprise Policy and implementation of the Policy is opening new opportunities for social enterprises to address social and environmental challenges, and thereby progress towards the SDGs. The policy reflects the Irish Government’s commitment to facilitating the success of social enterprise in Ireland, as well as underpinning the Government’s commitments to equality, human rights and social cohesion. The policy is aligned to the SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth in particular and the targets therein.
Our Public Libraries 2022: Inspiring, Connecting and Empowering Communities aligns with SDG 4 Quality Education and specifically to targets:
4.2. By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education
4.6 By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy.
Additionally, the SuperValu TidyTowns competition is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The Sustainable Development Goals now form an integral part of the competition and the goals have been aligned to each of the eight competition categories. A specific SDG award is being introduced for 2021. A series of capacity building webinars have taken place for TidyTown Groups in 2021 including one dedicated to the SDGs. The monthly TidyTowns newsletter provides information to circa 1,000 TidyTowns groups on how they can assist in achieving these goals in their community.
