Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 18 October 2022

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Estimates for Public Services 2022 (Supplementary)
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications

Photo of Brian LeddinBrian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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I thank the Minister for his opening statement. I invite members wishing to contribute to raise their hands and I will make a list. Can we agree a time limit of five minutes of back-and-forth with the Minister? Agreed.

We should have enough time as we are just discussing one Vote. We will go back for second and third rounds as necessary.

I refer to the funding for local authorities and the public bodies carrying out their duties and the remit they would have. This question could probably extend to the funding for An Bord Pleanála as well. The local authorities, in a broad level, are responsible for a lot of climate action through transport and housing. Decisions that local authorities take have an impact on housing and transport emissions. However, a narrower view is to look at the operational side of a local authority. Do the local authorities take a broader or narrower view in their climate action plans? It is one thing for all public buildings in a local authority area to have low energy lighting, but there is a bigger impact of the local authorities in terms of climate. That question could probably extend to An Bord Pleanála as well, where the line is drawn between its operational remit and its broader remit.