Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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99. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the impact Project Ireland 2040 will have on 2030 climate targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53194/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Project Ireland 2040, incorporating the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan (NDP), is the first time an Irish Government has ever attempted to ensure that future growth is compact, connected, regionally balanced and sustainable. Implementing this integrated vision, and ensuring that the right capital investments are made, will create a significant shift in behaviour patterns and avoid lock-in to high emissions patterns of living. The NDP commits to a significant step change in funding available for climate action over the next decade.

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. A further €8.6bn will be made available for investments in sustainable transport measures.

This capital investment will enable us to deliver a large reduction in our greenhouse gas emissions over the period to 2030. Initial estimates of the potential emissions reduction contribution from full delivery of the relevant commitments in the NDP are set out in the 2018 Annual Transition Statement, published by my Department and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 3 December last. These estimates suggest a cumulative total savings in greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 22 million tonnes of CO2 over the period 2021 to 2030, when compared to the most recent emissions projections published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in May 2018. Work to further refine this initial estimate is continuing.