Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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This payment is part of a five-year programme that will see significant ramping up, not just this first payment, but further larger payments, so that they can meet the requirements of the Act. I have been travelling around the country as best as I can talking to different local authorities to encourage them in that work and listening to what they have to say on the resources they need. This is a response. I also told them that they should take broad perspective as to what their role is; it is not just about how they manage their own energy use within their buildings, fleets and so on.

I will give an example of wider considerations. One of the areas where we have huge potential for decarbonisation development and improving our citizens’ lot is through the development of the likes of district heating. It can only be the local authority, particularly through its development process, that can look to target and identify, and then facilitate, support and, in many instances, manage the roll-out of such systems. That then can be applied across a wide variety of different areas, including transport and energy. It can be applied not only in district heating but also in improvement of their housing stock and the provisions within the development plan around renewable power generation and grid development. Once one starts looking at it, the list of where local authorities can and should have a key role is significant.

That is connected, in a sense, to the economic development role of local authorities. This is where a new economy and opportunities will develop. Those councils and authorities that are ahead of the curve in being part of the decarbonisation programme will see more investment, more jobs and a wider rate base. To answer the Chair’s question, their function should not be seen narrowly as being about the emissions that they are directly responsible for, but rather in that wider remit.