Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this issue with regard to environmental organisations working in the community, including Green Sod Ireland. The Senator explained in detail the work it does and where it is located throughout the country.

With the publication of Climate Action Plan 2021, the Government recognises that there is an opportunity to create a cleaner, greener economy and society that can cut emissions, create jobs and protect both the planet and people. In keeping with Green Sod Ireland’s purpose to protect and conserve Irish land in perpetuity, for the sake of its indigenous inhabitants, cleaner air, warmer homes, less traffic congestion, a healthier population and greater biodiversity are among the many benefits Ireland will enjoy as a result of taking action. The Climate Action Plan 2021 sets out a pathway to reducing carbon emissions by 51% by 2030 and becoming a net zero and climate neutral economy by no later than 2050.Although the targets are challenging and require fundamental changes in many parts of Irish life, standing still is not an option. The benefits to rural communities are many, including: new opportunities in sustainable industries; improved water and air quality; improved quality of land; increased biodiversity; and a climate-resilient, robust and profitable agrifood sector.

Climate Action Plan 2021 places specific emphasis on citizen engagement. To this end, Pobal and the Minister launched strand 2 of the community climate action programme, which focuses on climate education, capacity building and learning by doing. An overall budget for strand 2 is set at €5 million. Its aim is to build capacity and know-how of communities, enabling and empowering them to become low-carbon in an inclusive and collaborative manner. It is envisaged the strand will fund a mix of different types of projects that focus on providing climate education rather than awareness, and this will lead to tangible climate action within communities. The funding will facilitate eligible organisations to develop supports, tools, approaches and know-how with local communities to tackle climate change. The key point to note in that regard is that it will facilitate eligible organisations.

In keeping with the citizen engagement theme in Climate Action Plan 2021, the Department of Rural and Community Development has committed to complete a public participation networks, PPNs, structural review, with a focus on ensuring PPNs are fit for purpose for climate action as per the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future. In addition, the Department will facilitate consultation with communities on climate policy through the public participation networks in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Under the Climate Action Plan 2021, the Department of Rural and Community Development is also working with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to develop and include a module on climate change in the guidelines for the development of new local economic and community plans.

The mission of the Department of Rural and Community Development is to promote rural and community development and support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities. Funding is available under the rural regeneration and development fund to support job creation in rural areas, address depopulation of rural communities and support improvements in towns and villages with a population of fewer than 10,000 persons, as well as outlying areas. Initial funding of €315 million has been allocated to the fund on a phased basis for the period 2019-22. Category 1 applications for the fund are now open for submissions. Funding will support large-scale regeneration projects that are ready to commence.

All measures under outdoor recreation and infrastructure schemes are supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development in partnership with Fáilte Ireland. The aim is to promote the development of a sustainable outdoor recreation sector that leverages our natural environment for the benefit of local communities and Ireland’s tourism offering.