Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I reiterate that I am not able to get involved with the discussion on Galway and the detail of what Galway City Council has done this week. I agree with the Deputy that the change required to deal with climate change can be difficult but I have yet to see people regret the change once it has been made, whether it is electric cars or more footpaths or cycle lanes or, in my own area, the banning of cars from a beach. I think people are pretty happy with that, despite it having been a difficult decision.

The development and implementation of local authority climate action plans are a statutory requirement and a fundamental mechanism to enable Ireland to deliver climate actions. Local authorities are already well positioned at the forefront of climate action in Ireland and currently play a significant role in delivering adaptation and mitigation measures at local and community levels. The phased approach taken to their development and implementation will ensure that local authorities are well placed to deliver on the actions within the climate action plan 2021, while also preparing their own actions plans.

The four climate action regional offices were established in 2018 and will play a key role across the whole local government sector. Local government, in this way, will act as a fundamental link between national policy and engaging communities and individuals across Ireland in tailoring solutions to their area, to realise our ambitions to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 in a fair and equitable manner. There is no doubt but that action on climate change is not just desirable, which it is, but is extremely urgent too.

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