Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Calleary is absolutely right about the need for this to be something from the bottom up that is community led. I could not agree with him more and Ballina would be a fine town to lead that. There are very few towns in Europe that have salmon jumping upriver in the town centre in the dramatic way that can be seen in Ballina, which is such a beautiful town.

I will give the Deputy a couple of pointers for the people of Ballina. Yesterday evening the GAA launched a new greener clubs scheme. Forty five clubs were represented at the launch. I must check if there was a club from Ballina but my own local club, Kilmacud Crokes, is involved along with clubs from all over the country. The scheme is just like the green flag scheme for schools. The aim is to get local GAA clubs involved in supporting biodiversity around their own grounds, in carbon reduction through new and clever ways of using transport to move teams around, in developing waste plans, making efficient use of energy and so on. It is exactly what the Deputy spoke about in terms of encouraging the sharing of best practice and learning from each other. It is really clever because it involves clubs working with local authorities, energy agencies and those with real expertise in the area. Clubs will also learn from each other. It is a really good example of a green scheme and the launch last night was really enthusiastic. The scheme is only beginning but it could be really transformational along the lines outlined by Deputy Calleary.

A second very practical approach that the town of Ballina might consider involves working with the local authority. Last week we announced a competitive fund for local authorities outside of the metropolitan areas. We invited them to present bids for investment in walking and cycling infrastructure in local areas. Some €50 million is not a huge amount of money when divided among all the counties but if we can keep doing this on a regular basis, it will make a difference. If counties and towns start coming up with plans, that will have a transformative effect. It is exactly as the Deputy suggested in terms of being an open fund for which bids can be made to the National Transport Authority.

I have given the Deputy two very practical examples there but on the wider issue of a consultation process with a community-led approach to climate change, I will take the Deputy's suggestion on board and make sure it is delivered within Government because it is absolutely the correct approach to take. We will start that in the new year.

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