Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 October 2022
23. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the establishment, membership and remit of the cross-departmental acceleration taskforces (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50528/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo accelerate delivery in a number of key programme areas for Government, I announced that I was establishing 6 cross Government/agency delivery taskforces, to accelerate and drive delivery in these key areas. Four of the taskforces are already established with work commenced on the establishment of the remaining two. Further details on the establishment, membership and remit is set out in the table below.
|
Taskforce |
Status |
Remit |
Membership |
|
Citizen Engagement, Climate Literacy and Communications Taskforce |
Established July 2022
First meeting to take place by end October 2022 |
1. To engage government departments, the EPA, the SEAI, and agencies in exploring how climate literacy can be embedded as a strategic level across sectors. 2. To support engagement activities relating to climate across Government Departments with key sectoral responsibilities and Local Authorities, in the co-creation of solutions to climate action. 3. To provide an evidence base to support sectoral policy and strategic communications emerging from the findings of the Climate Conversations, engagement activities under the NDCA, and social and behavioural research on climate action.
|
Chair: Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
-Department of An Taoiseach -Department of Education -Department of Transport - Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine -Department of Rural and Community Development of -Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth -Climate Action Regional Offices -Local Authorities -EPA - SEAI |
|
District Heating Steering Group/ Heat and Built Environment Delivery Taskforce |
District Heating Steering Group due to report in Q4. Following that, the Steering Group will report into the Heat and Built Environement Task Force, which is in the process of being established. District Heating Steering Group met 9 times in 2022 |
The Terms of Reference for the Heat and Built Environment Delivery Taskforce will be agreed by the members of that Taskforce, along with the work programme. It is expected that the Taskforce will identify work on the critical path to accelerate and drive delivery, to ensure alignment in the development of polices and activities underway across Government Departments and to proactively manage risks to ensure targets are achieved.
Chair: DECC
Wider membership currently being finalised
Just Transition
Not yet established
My Department is considering the potential role for a Just Transition Taskforce in the context of the existing commitment to establish a Just Transition Commission.
TBD
Land Use
Established July 2022
Has met once
1. to seek input into exploring a practical means of accelerating our progress in the transition to carbon neutrality in a fair and equitable manner.
2. To seek a framework for land and land use to play its part through the second phase of the land use review.
Chair: DECC
- Agricultural Consultants Association
- Regional Assemblies and Local Authority representatives
- Irish Green Building Council
- Irish Co-Operative Organisation Society
- Irish BioEnergy Association
- Coillte
- EPA
- Irish Farmers' Association
- Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association
- SEAI
- Science Foundation Ireland
- Teagasc
Offshore Wind Delivery
Established April 2022
Has met 4 times
1. to accelerate and drive delivery by public bodies of offshore wind
2. to develop a system wide programme plan
3. identify all aspects of work on the critical path, including gaps, risks and opportunities.
4. to ensure that potential economic and societal opportunities associated with the development of the sector are captured.
Chair: Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
- Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
- Department of Transport
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Department of Rural and Community Development,
- Enterprise Ireland
- Commission for Regulation of Utilities
- EirGrid.
Sustainable Transport
Established March 2022
Meetings of the LG take place every 4-6 weeks
The acceleration taskforce dealing with sustainable transport is the Leadership Group (LG) established under the National Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP).
The role of the LG is:
- to oversee and drive delivery of the SMP and its associated Action Plan.
- oversee delivery of the National Sustainable Mobility Policy SMP Action Plan
- bring together the expertise and insight of its member organisations to ensure the plan’s effective delivery and to identify solutions to any common obstacles which may arise
- agree proposals for the first national Sustainable Mobility Stakeholder Forum to take place in 2023.
Chair: Department of Transport
- Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage
- National Transport Authority
- Transport Infrastructure Ireland
- City and County Management Association
- Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly
- Northern and Western Regional Assembly
- Southern Regional Assembly
