Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

575. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated full cost of implementing the Climate Action Plan 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26316/19]

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

586. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated full cost of implementing the Climate Action Plan 2019; the cost per year until the end of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26317/19]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

594. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated cost of the Climate Action Plan 2019; the extent to which the spending plans are already accounted for in other plans such as the National Development Plan 2018-2027; the additional cost arising from the Climate Action Plan 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26462/19]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

608. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the Climate Action Plan 2019 which was launched on 17 June 2019. [26558/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 575, 586, 594 and 608 together.

I published the Government's Climate Action Plan on Monday 17 June. The plan sets out, for the first time, how Ireland can reach its 2030 targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and also put Ireland on the right trajectory towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The step-up in ambition in each of the sectors covered by the plan will require investment across the entire economy. Overall, through the mix of technologies and measures identified, the plan sets out the pathway that represents the least-cost burden to the economy as a whole. A significant portion of the technologies and measures set out in the plan will result also in net lifetime cost savings to the economy as a whole.

In terms of costs to the Exchequer and other public funding, the plan will be funded through Project Ireland 2040 which provides €30 billion for low carbon and sustainable mobility investments in the period to 2027.

Many of the actions in the plan do not require public funding. The actions contained in this plan fall broadly into four categories:

- public funding provided in the annual estimates process and in Project Ireland 2040

- measures such as setting a long-term trajectory for the carbon tax, in order to change long-term behaviour and decisions to encourage investment in more sustainable choices

- new regulations to end certain practices (e.g. phasing out oil and gas boilers in homes or introducing low emission zones in cities)

- actions to promote public and community engagement and participation in reducing our emissions.

For the first time, a decarbonisation target has been set for each sector. Each Government Department must now determine the optimum approach to utilising the funding available to it to support the policies necessary to meet the targets proposed for each sector. The exact costs will be determined from the detailed policy design work which will consist of a mix of regulations, taxes, and subsidies which the Government may choose to deploy to achieve the target abatement range in each sector.

It should also be noted that there would also be a very significant cost to the Exchequer for not implementing any policies to achieve compliance with our 2030 targets, which would also lock Ireland into a high carbon trajectory that would be unsustainable in the long-run.

Failure to implement these policies to meet our legally binding EU targets could result in a cost to the Exchequer of up to €1.75 billion over the next decade as well as locking Ireland into a future high carbon trajectory.