Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 June 2022
100. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of plans for a new climate division in his Department; if he will confirm its staffing structure; its overall responsibilities and the function it will play in the allocation, implementation and enforcement of sectoral carbon budgets and ceilings across Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31012/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn recognition of the scale and urgency of the challenge of meeting Ireland’s climate action targets, a new Climate Action Division has been established within the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Climate Action is a key Programme for Government commitment and the Civil and Public Service will play a central role in driving the changes necessary to achieve net zero by 2050. The new Climate Action Division aims to maximise the contribution which the Department can make in this area. The Division will bring together key expenditure areas with a strong climate dimension, including adaptation, mitigation and climate finance. A core responsibility will be to ensure that climate impacts are fully considered in the development of policies and actions for which the Department is responsible.
The Division will be led at Assistant Secretary level and will be comprised of five discrete units. Functions of the new Division will encompass the National Investment Office; climate policy coordination, performance budgeting and wellbeing; climate action research and analysis; as well as oversight of sectoral spending in the Departments of Transport, Agriculture, Environment, Climate and Communications, and the Office of Public Works, amongst others.
Regarding sectoral climate ceilings, each relevant Government Minister will be responsible for achieving the legally-binding targets for their own sector, with each Minister accounting for their performance towards sectoral targets and actions before an Oireachtas Committee annually.
Within the overall expenditure framework set by my Department, it will be the responsibility of each Minister to ensure that their Departments’ priorities and spending allocations are aligned with the emissions ceilings in their sectors.
