Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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580. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when Ireland will make its contribution to the Green Climate Fund, as referred to by him at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Lima, Peru, recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24566/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Ireland’s statement at the 20th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP20) in Lima recognised the Green Climate Fund as a key instrument in mobilising climate action. It is important to note, however, that it is not the only means by which climate finance is made available. Despite our recent difficult economic circumstances, Ireland has succeeded in maintaining flows of public climate finance, delivering approximately €34 million in grants in each of the years 2013 and 2014 – largely through climate relevant spending through Irish Aid.

The Government is aware of the importance of climate finance for developing countries. As was stated in Lima, all options for scaling up mobilisation of climate finance, including in relation to the Green Climate Fund as well as longer-term approaches, are under active consideration. No decision has yet been taken and the work is on-going in the broader context of the international negotiations and national budgetary processes.