Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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463. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to set out in tabular form the specific projects that will receive the €47 million in extra capital expenditure in 2019 as outlined in Annex 1 of the National Development Plan 2018-2027; the amount each project will receive of this €47 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31270/18]

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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464. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to set out in tabular form the specific projects which will receive the €256 million in capital funding allocated in 2019; the amount each project will receive of the €256 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31285/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 463 and 464 together.

The amount of €256 million in capital funding allocated to my Department in 2019, and published in the National Development Plan, represents a 22% or €47 million increase over 2018. Programme allocations for 2019 will be agreed in the context of the annual Estimates process and will be made public on Budget Day, while detailed programme allocations will be published in the Revised Estimates Volume in December next.

In 2019, my Department will progress projects in a number of areas of strategic national importance, encompassing climate action, energy efficiency, communications, broadcasting, environment, waste management, natural resources and inland fisheries. In the Communications area, the new high speed broadband network under the National Broadband Plan and continued support for digital adoption among businesses and citizens will ensure that the opportunities presented by the digital transformation are available to every community in Ireland.

Focus will be maintained on advancing the critical climate action agenda, in line with the whole-of-Government National Mitigation Plan. Expanded investment in energy efficiency upgrades in the residential, commercial and public sectors will deliver significant energy savings and reductions in emissions. Development of renewable energy across the electricity, heat and transport sectors is central to Ireland’s transition to a low carbon economy. The rollout of the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat will promote the replacement of fossil fuel heating systems with renewable energy technologies, while incentivising the uptake of electric vehicles will continue to be a priority for my Department.

In the environmental area, the Environmental Protection Agency will continue to deliver on its legislative mandate and research commitments in relation to ambient air quality, noise and non-ionising radiation monitoring, as well as the areas of climate mitigation and adaptation.

My Department will continue to provide grant funding for the remediation of landfill sites, as well as supports for the transition to a circular and resource efficient economy and protection of our natural environment. Continued investment in INFOMAR and TELLUS mapping projects will provide reliable geoscience support, underpinning the sustainable development of Ireland’s natural resources.