Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Without straying, hopefully, too much from the subject in hand, regarding the resources to mitigate the effects of climate action, which includes active travel, we have provided an additional 230 or 240 staff. It took time for the local authorities to get them in place, but they are there now. In previous years, it was not possible for the monies allocated to be spent. This will no longer be the case. There will be more competition for these budgets than there will be funding available. On that basis, we launched our Pathfinders programme yesterday. This was to reward, highlight and champion those local authorities that will be quick and get the best value from the funding.

Similarly, the Delivering Effective Climate Action 2030 plan had a local authority strategy. It was prepared for the research team at the Local Government Management Agency, with the involvement of consultants, the climate action regional offices the County and City Management Association and the environment, climate change and efficiency and emergency planning committee. This strategy was submitted to us last year. The authors worked out and identified the supports in this regard. This Supplementary Estimate is now responding to that endeavour. It has taken the analysis provided to us regarding what capacity requirements local authorities have and has suggested ways of funding it. This approach encompasses all 31 local authorities delivering phase 1. Included is the establishment of internal organisational supports and governance structures, translating the Climate Action Plan 2021 actions into local authority actions and building the evidence base for adaptation and mitigation at a county level. Stakeholder engagement is also involved.

There are two key specialised resource requirements. One is a climate action co-ordinator, CAC, who will be responsible for managing the climate action resources and overseeing the implementation of climate action measures, in respect of adaptation and mitigation, together with the local authority climate action steering group. There will also be a climate action officer, CAO, who will be responsible for managing internal change, building climate action awareness and readiness in each local authority and providing support to the CAC. The climate action plan has identified 90 actions, with dedicated timeframes for delivering and reporting, for which local authorities have direct responsibility or where they key stakeholders. There is, therefore, a great deal of project work to be done. This undertaking will provide some of the key staff resources, including the CAOs and the CACs. These will work with the other resources we are providing to local authorities, be those in the areas of transport, parks or other elements.

The local authorities that are good at this will find it benefits their overall operations. It cannot be forced on them.