Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 February 2022
123. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of successful applicants to the Climate Action Fund in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9337/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt least €500 million will be available from the Climate Action Fund over the period to 2027 to support projects, initiatives and research that contribute to the achievement of Ireland’s climate and energy targets and goals. In addition, the Government will make major investments through substantial other funding, set out in the National Development Plan.
To date, over €140 million has been committed from the Climate Action Fund for a range of projects, including in relation to district heating, EV infrastructure, creative climate action, co-financing for EU LIFE projects, and a Community Climate Action Programme. Through the Community Climate Action Programme, announced in November 2021, €60 million will be invested in community climate action projects and initiatives, as well as capacity building, over the next three years. Under this Programme, an open call was launched by Pobal in November 2021. A total of 72 applications were received in response to this call and are currently being assessed.
During 2021, 14 projects were approved for funding under Creative Climate Action, a collaboration supported by the Climate Action Fund and the Creative Ireland Programme. A further eight projects received approval-in-principal in 2021 to co-financing from the Climate Action Fund for EU LIFE projects. Final approval for this co-financing is conditional on these projects successfully securing EU LIFE funding.
As a next step, an open call will be developed for launch in 2022 aimed at providing funding for further projects aligned with the priorities of the Government's Climate Action Plan 2021. Work on the development of this call will commence shortly. Details on the scope of the call and eligibility criteria will be available on my Department's website in due course.
