Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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295. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount the Government has contributed to the least developed countries fund since 2011, by year; and the amount that it has committed to for 2017. [17239/17]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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297. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount the Government has contributed to the green climate fund since 2011, by year; and the amount that it has committed to for 2017. [17241/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 295 and 297 together.

Ireland made a commitment at the Paris Climate Change Conference in November 2015 to provide at least €175 million in public funding in support of climate action in developing countries between 2016 and 2020. This support will be provided primarily for bilateral assistance in respect of climate change adaptation goals in developing countries and will come from the Vote of Irish Aid managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

In addition, Ireland provides contributions in respect of a number of multilateral funds established under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, including the Least Developed Countries Fund and the Green Climate Fund. These funds, in line with their respective mandates, provide support for mitigation and adaptation action in developing countries. Funding through these mechanisms is provided through my own Department and through the Official Development Assistance budget managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Details of funding provided annually since 2011 are outlined in the following tables.

Least Developed Countries Fund:

Contributions from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade:

2011 = €500,000

2012 = €750,000

2013 = €200,000

2014 = €900,000

2015 = €1,000,000

2016 = €1,000,000

2017 = €1,000,000

Contributions from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government:

2011 = €2,000,000

Contributions to the Least Developed Countries Fund for 2016 and 2017 form part of a three-year multi-annual funding arrangement between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Global Environment Facility totalling €3 million over three years.

Green Climate Fund:

Contributions from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment:

2016 = €2,000,000

While no decisions have yet been taken in respect of expenditure in 2017, the Government has already signalled its commitment to building up its support to the Green Climate Fund in the coming years.