Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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1554. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the plans he has developed in his Department to meet the terms of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015. [41213/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 puts the national response to climate change on a statutory footing and represents a milestone for climate action in Ireland.

At the core of the 2015 Act is the obligation to achieve a 'national transition objective'– the goal of pursuing a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050. In order to facilitate the achievement of the 'transition objective', the 2015 Act provides for the development and submission to Government for approval of national mitigation plans and national adaptation frameworks.

The Act also provides for an annual transition statement to be laid before the Oireachtas each year.  Ireland's first transition statement, which was laid before the Houses in December 2016 included a progress report on work relating to the development of the first national mitigation plan and national adaptation framework and related lower tier plans and strategies.The first national mitigation plan and national adaptation framework will be submitted to Government for approval not later than 10 June 2017 and 10 December 2017 respectively. 

As Minister with responsibility for a key sector in climate action,  my Department is making good progress in developing the transport sector's contribution to the overall mitigation objective and has submitted proposed transport elements of the draft mitigation plan for coordination to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment.  In relation to adaptation, my Department placed a draft plan for the transport sector on public display in December 2016 and this consultation is due to conclude on 9 February 2017.  This plan is being prepared under the 2012 Framework and will be updated to meet the obligations, as they arise, under the new Adaptation Framework, which is currently being developed under the provisions of 2015 Act. 

Overall, I am satisfied with my Department's progress under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015.