Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

60. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of applications received to the LA 21 environmental partnership fund in 2018; and his plans to extend and develop it in view of the substantial pressure to deal with Ireland's emissions targets. [37315/18]

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

The Local Agenda 21 (LA21) Environmental Partnership Fund promotes sustainable development by assisting small-scale environmental projects at local level. It encourages involvement of local communities in local action and decision-making, and assists them in working towards the goal of sustainable development.

In 2017, I increased funding for the LA21 Environmental Partnership Fund to €460,000 and I maintained this increased level of funding for this year's scheme. Funding provided by my Department is matched by local authorities, and projects may also attract funding from other sources, such as private sector funding, in order to maximise the potential of the partnership arrangements.

A list of the 880 successful funding applications for 2018 is available on my Department’s website. 

The LA21 Environmental Partnership Fund is only one of a range of initiatives supported by Government, at both national and regional/local level, to help Ireland achieve the17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, which includes Goal 13 on Climate Action. Ireland’s National Implementation Plan 2018-2020 is our direct response to the 2030 Agenda and provides a whole-of-government approach to implementing the Agenda, including by identifying strategic priorities to guide implementation including awareness, participation and support.

For example, as part of the National Dialogue on Climate Action (NDCA), my Department is supporting An Taisce’s Green Schools Programme to implement a National Climate Change Action and Awareness Programme in schools across the country. This includes a climate ambassador programme, an annual Climate Action Week in October, and a Green Schools Expo. This Dialogue also incorporates a programme of regional and local events. Other initiatives supported by the NDCA include the EPA’s series of professionally moderated and accessible expert lectures/debates on key policy issues, and my Department also sponsors the annual Tidy Towns Climate Action special award.

Furthermore, in January 2018 I announced an allocation of €10 million over five years for the establishment and development of four Local Authority Climate Action Regional Offices. This commitment recognises the significant obligation which has been placed on local government to develop and implement its own climate action measures and to build capacity within the sector in terms of both mitigation and adaptation. Service level agreements have been put in place between my Department and each lead authority. These offices will provide expertise and capacity at local and regional level to contribute effectively to the national transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy.

In addition the publication in February 2018 of the National Development Plan, reaffirms the Government’s commitment to transitioning Ireland to a low carbon, climate resilient economy and society. It will lead to a significant step change in funding available for climate action over the next decade. This funding commitment provides a clear opportunity for significant up-scaling in our investments to deliver deep emissions reductions in the coming decade and to further develop and implement the National Mitigation Plan and National Adaptation Framework.

Reflecting the strong commitment of Government on this issue, almost €22 billion will be directed, between Exchequer and non-Exchequer resources, to addressing the transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient society. In addition, the National Development Plan allocated a further €8.6 billion for investments in sustainable mobility. This means that well over €1 in €5 spent under the National Development Plan will be on climate mitigation, and this capital investment will enable us to deliver a significant reduction in our greenhouse gas emissions over the period to 2030.