Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 June 2022
73. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 185 of 1 March 2022, the status of the promised statutory guidelines on the development of local authority climate action plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28510/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
Local Authority plans will have to be consistent with national climate plans and strategies and will include both mitigation and adaptation measures to be updated every five years. Local Authorities will liaise with each other in the preparation of these plans. My Department is working with the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs), Local Authorities, and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to finalise a set of statutory guidelines detailing the approach Local Authorities are to take in the development and implementation of Local Authority climate action plans. Each plan will drive adaptation and mitigation measures required at local level. The guidelines will also include the issue of implementation of decarbonising zones.
