Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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507. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost of each seminar held on Project Ireland 2040 up to and including September 2018 by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39578/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Project Ireland 2040 sets out the Government’s overarching policy for infrastructural and economic growth, incorporating themes of wellbeing, equality and opportunity. Combining the National Planning Framework to 2040 and the National Development Plan to 2027, the initiative contains 10 ambitious targets to address sustainable national development.

My Department held an event on 20 June 2018 to highlight one of these targets, the Transition to a Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Society. The event was designed to open dialogue among a range of stakeholders on collaborative and community-based approaches to achieving this key strategic outcome, as well as offering valuable insights from the individuals, organisations and agencies who will work closely with Government to address these issues. The event, entitled “Empowering Communities for Climate Action”, showcased local initiatives that are addressing climate change and sustainable growth. It also highlighted the critical issue of behavioural change, and how government and communities can address these challenges and opportunities.

I hosted the event which was also attended by the Taoiseach, and Ministers for Finance; Housing, Planning and Local Government; Transport, Tourism and Sport; and Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The full cost of this event was €28,278 inclusive of VAT, which included venue hire; refreshments for all attendees; staging, AV and recording; the design and print of information material outlining the NDP investment in Climate Action entitled “Investing in the Transition to a Low-Carbon and Climate-Resilient Society”; the creation of a short video for online dissemination to highlight climate investment; and photography.