Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2023
101. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what funding he intends to request for the agricultural sector from the announced climate and nature fund; how he will determine how this fund will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46727/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Budget day, my colleague the Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, T.D. announced the proposed establishment of an Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund (ICNF).
The objectives of this Fund are, to support expenditure by the State in times of significant deterioration in the public finances, with the intention that the resources would be used to support capital expenditure and projects to achieve climate and nature goals.
The proposed Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill will establish the fund.
The Bill is included on the list of bills for publication in the Government’s autumn legislation programme and the General Scheme of the Bill was published on the Department of Finance’s website on 12 October: www.gov.ie/en/publication/75000-general-scheme-of-the-future-ireland-fund-and-infrastructure-climate-and-nature-fund/
The broad outline of how the fund will operate is contained in the General Scheme. Heading 15 provides an outline of the process for how the fund will be dealt with in relation to climate and nature goals, but this will be further worked out during the drafting of the Bill. Department of Finance officials are working with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to prepare the Bill based on the General Scheme.
At this point, it would be premature to identify potentially relevant projects.
