Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken to ensure preparation for the impact of climate change, in particular to ensure that Ireland is prepared to deal with these impacts both at national and local government level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18101/09]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken to ensure that local authorities have guidance from his Department on the steps they should take to adapt to the impact of climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18100/09]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he will take in respect of the findings of the Environmental Protection Agency report Climate Change in Ireland - Refining the Impacts for Ireland and the need to plan for climate changes that are already occurring and will be clearly evident within 40 years, and its suggestion that we need to plan ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18099/09]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the national strategy for adaptation to climate change will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18098/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 37, 38 and 45 together.

The National Climate Change Strategy 2007 – 2012 includes a commitment to develop a national adaptation strategy by 2009, the objective of which will be to improve our resilience to deal with the impacts of climate change. It will provide a framework for integration of adaptation issues into decision-making at national and local levels. The EPA report, Climate Change in Ireland: Refining the Impacts for Ireland, published last week, and a further report by the Agency which is due next month, are part of a series of research projects currently underway which will input into the development of the adaptation strategy. Subsequent steps will be informed by the findings of these reports. The strategy must be informed by the best available scientific research in order to enable the various sectors to plan ahead and develop policies and strategies to enable Ireland cope with the likely impacts of climate change. The Department will be consulting with stakeholders, including local authorities, in developing the strategy.