Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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607. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the strategic environmental assessment under Directive 2001/42/EC, ensuring sustainable development of the Climate Action Plan 2019, has been completed; if so, his views on the outcome of the assessment of the Climate Action Plan 2019; the way in which persons can access the assessment of the action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26652/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The National Mitigation Plan was prepared within the framework of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 and was the subject of a statutory consultation, a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), and Appropriate Assessment (AA). The National Mitigation Plan remains in place as the statutory plan under the 2015 Act.

The Climate Action Plan gives further effect to, rather than replaces, the National Mitigation Plan.

The commitments set out in the Climate Action Plan will be incorporated into the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) which must be finalised and submitted to the European Commission by the end of 2019. My Department will shortly commence Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment screening processes on the draft National Energy and Climate Plan to determine whether an SEA or AA is required, taking into account the updates required to the NECP to incorporate the Climate Action Plan commitments.