Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 November 2023
85. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline he and his Department's engagement with the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform regarding the Climate, Infrastructure and Nature Fund announced in Budget 2024; how that fund could be used to ramp up annual climate adaptation projects nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50290/23]
View answerThe Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund is one of two new funds provided for by the Future Ireland Fund, Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill announced by the Minister for Finance as part of Budget 2024.
The General Scheme for the Bill has been published by the Minister for Finance, who is leading on the development of this legislation in consultation with other relevant Ministers. My Department is engaging with the Department of Finance on the preparation of the Bill.
The General Scheme of the Bill sets out that the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund will provide additional capital funding of up to €3.15 billion for projects that will assist the State in meeting its climate, biodiversity and water quality obligations in the period to 2030. The identification and prioritisation of projects will be subject to criteria to be developed by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, as well as approval by the Government.
In relation to adaptation projects, observations show that Ireland’s climate is changing in terms of increases in average temperature, changes in precipitation patterns, and weather extremes. Climate change is expected to have diverse and wide-ranging impacts on Ireland’s environment, society, and economic development, including on the built environment, managed and natural ecosystems, water resources, agriculture and food security, human health, and coastal zones. Ireland will need to adapt to these impacts, including flood risk, over time.
My Department leads and coordinates national climate adaptation policy, primarily through the development and implementation of the National Adaptation Framework. The Framework outlines a whole of Government and society approach to climate adaptation in Ireland to improve the enabling environment for adaptation through ongoing engagement with key sectors, along with civil society, the private sector, and the research community. The key objectives of the National Adaptation Framework are implemented through policies and investments at sectoral, regional and local levels. Departments and Agencies are responsible for implementing adaptation measures through the Sectoral Adaptation Plans under their remit. In line with other areas of capital investment funded by the Exchequer, relevant sectors with such plans are expected to fund those plans from their own Departmental Votes.
I am currently updating the National Adaptation Framework (NAF). A draft is expected to be completed by the end of 2023, on which a public consultation will be held in early 2024. Following this, the new NAF will be submitted for Government approval. A process will then commence to update the current Sectoral Adaptation Plans.
