Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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526. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of actions taken to tackle climate change since February 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43355/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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A number of significant policy initiatives have been undertaken by this Government since February 2016 to address climate change.

Ireland's first National Mitigation Plan, which the government published in July 2017, is a whole-of-Government Plan, reflecting, in particular, the central roles of the Ministers responsible for the four key sectors with the most significant contribution to national emissions: Electricity Generation; the Built Environment; Transport; and Agriculture, Forestry and Land Use. The Plan provides a framework to guide investment decisions by Government in domestic measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In January of this year the government published Ireland’s first statutory National Adaptation Framework which represents our national policy response to the challenges posed by the impacts of climate change. Seven Government Departments, with responsibility for twelve priority sectors, are currently preparing sectoral adaptation plans for submission to Government for approval by 30 September 2019 in line with the requirements of the Climate Act 2015.

Building on these strategies, the publication in February of the National Development Plan reaffirms the Government’s commitment to transitioning Ireland to a low carbon, climate resilient economy and society. 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. This means that well over €1 in €5 spent under the National Development Plan (NDP) will be on climate action and this capital investment will enable us to deliver a significant reduction in our greenhouse gas emissions over the period to 2030.

My Department is also working closely with other relevant Departments and Agencies on the preparation of a National Energy and Climate Plan. This work has, in turn, been informed by work undertaken to prepare the Energy White Paper, the National Mitigation Plan, National Adaptation Framework and National Development Plan. An initial consultation on the preparation of Ireland's draft National Energy and Climate Plan is taking place from 9 October until 12 November. I intend that the draft Plan, once completed, will be the subject of a separate public consultation.

In accordance with the Climate Act 2015, the Government must also prepare and submit to the Oireachtas an Annual Transition Statement. In support of this written Statement I, as well as other relevant Ministers, intend to provide an oral report to each House. This process ensures that responsible Ministers are directly accountable to the Oireachtas to ensure real progress is made in reducing emissions in their respective sectors. I expect to be in position to lay the 2018 Annual Transition Statement before the Oireachtas shortly.