Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1147. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the roles he envisages in national climate policy for a number of provisions (details supplied); and his plans to redirect the resources currently being used to support peat fired electricity to achieve a just transition for sustainable employment in the Midlands. [14173/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

 The 2014 National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development, which is underpinned by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, provides the high-level policy direction for the State to move to a low-carbon economy by 2050. The development of sectoral mitigation measures for the electricity generation, the built environment, transport and agriculture sectors to be set out in a National Mitigation Plan (NMP) is well advanced. The primary objective of the first NMP will be to monitor measures already underway and identify potential additional measures that, in the medium to longer term, will reduce GHG emissions. This will assist Ireland to achieve our national transition objective to become a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by the end of 2050.  Following a public consultation launched last week, the NMP will be submitted to Government for approval in June. The overarching objective of the Energy White Paper, published in December 2015, is to transition to a low carbon energy system which provides secure supplies of competitive and affordable energy to citizens and businesses. This will involve moving away from higher emissions fuel types to lower emissions fuels such as gas, or zero carbon renewable energy technologies. PSO support for Bord na Móna’s Edenderry peat-fired station expired in December 2015. The Edenderry power station is now in receipt of support for biomass co-firing via REFIT3 for up to 30% the size of the plant. In addition, Bord na Móna has stated that it intends to cease harvesting peat for electricity generation by 2030. The company has committed to replace large-scale peat production with alternative indigenous energy sources such as biomass. In keeping with the Energy White Paper, this will contribute to the decarbonisation of electricity while also maintaining sustainable levels of quality employment in the Midlands.

Under the Better Energy Communities (BEC) scheme which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, renewable energy heating systems are supported. Heat pumps and biomass boilers are being grant funded this year at up to 50% (or up to 95% for fuel poor households) when carried out with a combined fabric upgrade.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1148. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will report on current plans to progress a low carbon economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14177/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I refer to the replies to Question Nos. 34 and 41 on today's Order Paper. In line with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, 2015, I am required to prepare and submit a National Mitigation Plan to Government for approval no later than 10 June this year. This will be the first in a series of successive National Mitigation Plans which will set out, on an ongoing basis, Ireland's strategy to transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by the end of 2050. The first National Mitigation Plan is being prepared on the basis that it will be a whole-of-Government plan, reflecting in particular the central roles of key Ministers responsible for the sectors covered by the Plan - Electricity Generation, the Built Environment, Transport and Agriculture, Forest and Land Use. 

An important milestone in this work, and one required under the legislation, was reached last week when I published a draft National Mitigation Plan for public consultation.  This consultation will help inform further work in my own Department and across Government to finalise the Plan later this year.

The consultation is an essential part of the process of public and stakeholder engagement on the challenges we face to meet our existing commitments and to begin the longer-term low carbon transition process to 2050.  In addition to this consultation process, I recognise the need to engage wider society more generally with the climate challenge, motivate changes in behaviour, and create structures at local, regional and national levels to support the generation of ideas and their translation into appropriate cost-effective actions. To progress this, I recently announced details of a National Dialogue on Climate Action.

It is important to note that the first National Mitigation Plan represents an initial step to set us on a pathway to achieve the level of decarbonisation required by 2050. It does not provide a complete roadmap to achieve the 2050 objective, but rather is a work in progress reflecting the reality of where we are in our decarbonisation transition. When finalised, the Plan will become a living document, accessible on my Department's website, which is continually updated as on-going analysis, dialogue and technological innovation generate more and more cost-effective sectoral mitigation options. In addition, there will be the formal preparation of successive National Mitigation Plans at least once every five years as provided for in the 2015 Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act.