Climate Change Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022

Tuesday, 26 July 2022

Questions (145)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

145. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 106 of 2 June 2022, the status of the development of the statutory guidelines for local authority climate action plans, which will include the guidelines for the implementation of local authority decarbonising zones; the timeline for the publication of the statutory guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41401/22]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 was commenced on the 23 July 2021. Section 16 of the Act requires each Local Authority to prepare a Climate Action Plan, specifying the mitigation and the adaptation measures to be adopted by the Local Authority.

Local Authorities will have 12 months to complete their individual plans once requested by the Minister, with the request to be made within 18 months of the coming into operation of the Act.

My Department is currently working closely with the Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs) and Local Authorities to finalise and approve a set of statutory guidelines and accompanying technical annexes detailing the approach Local Authorities are to take in the development and implementation of these Local Authority Climate Action Plans. These guidelines are due to be published in Q4 2022.