Thomas Gould
Question:164. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of delays in the community climate action fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7394/24]
View answerThursday, 15 February 2024
Questions (164)
Written answers
The Community Climate Action Programme (CCAP) aims to support community climate action projects and initiatives, as well as capacity building, over a number of years. The first phase of the Community Climate Action Programme will see more than €30 million from the Climate Action Fund (CAF) invested in supporting communities across the country to run direct climate action projects and initiatives under Strand 1/1a, as well as capacity building under Strand 2.
Under Strand 2, €5 million of the Programme was allocated for education, capacity building and learning by doing projects. There are 19 projects currently in delivery under this programme, run by Pobal. Strand 2 also saw the Creative Climate Action Programme move to its second phase of funding of €2.545 million for 39 projects approved in July 2023. These are currently being implemented with a completion target of 2025. 14 projects from Phase 1 of the Creative Climate Action Programme, which saw €1 million allocated from the Climate Action Fund, are now complete.
I’m aware that there have been delays in the roll-out of Strand 1/1a of the programme which focuses on building low carbon communities. Some of these delays were due to the time required to recruit the Community Climate Action Officers (CCAOs). A CCAO is needed in each Local Authority to engage with community groups on potential projects, assist them in their applications and recommend particular projects to my Department for partnership between the Local Authorities and community groups. It also took time to develop and agree the contract that is required to underpin the funding for Strand 1 and 1a of the CCAP.
The contracts are now in place and the applications were opened in each of the 31 Local Authorities by December 2023.