I propose to take Questions Nos. 235, 236, 242 and 243 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, I am currently preparing an All of Government Climate Plan which will set out the actions which must be taken to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change. I am working with colleagues across Government to develop new initiatives in electricity, transport, heat, and agriculture, as well as a range of other sectors.
The new plan will have a strong focus on implementation, including actions with specific timelines and steps needed to achieve each action, assigning clear lines of responsibility for delivery. The new plan will also be informed by successful approaches in other countries.
The Plan will build on the policy framework, measures and actions set out in both the National Mitigation Plan and the National Development Plan and is to be completed in April.
My Department is working closely with the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Transport, Tourism and Sport in preparing the Plan.
The Plan will emphasise the significant and positive contribution that agriculture can make to climate mitigation, including through measures to reduce emissions on-farm, the promotion of sequestration through increase rates of afforestation, and the substitution of fossil fuels through the production of renewable energy feedstock.
A number of steps have already been taken to promote the development of low carbon transport alternatives, including a comprehensive support package to promote the uptake of electric vehicles, increasing the rate of the biofuels obligation, and support from the Climate Action Fund of up to €10 million to continue the rollout of the electric vehicle charging network and a further €8.5 million to support the development of renewable gas infrastructure and vehicles. Identification of additional measures to further decarbonise the transport sector is being considered as part of the All of Government Plan. The Plan will prioritise further ambition in these areas as well as placing emphasis on the role of modal shift measures in reducing transport emissions.