David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

If we took in €431 million in 2018, and even if it is not a full-year increase, it is probably going to be close to €500 million, say, €460 million or €470 million. Why is that entire amount not ring-fenced for climate action measures if it is so urgent? The Department is telling us there is a climate action plan and that we are going to get better at reaching our targets, yet all it has done is tell us that €70 million is ring-fenced. I will deal shortly with the issue of the money that is ring-fenced and also the midlands issue. We had the trade unions before the Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment recently and they were quite critical of the Government, Bord na Móna and ESB response to just transition. Why is the entire take for next year not ring-fenced? If climate action is so important, which it is, why is only the increase ring-fenced?