Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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104. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a fresh call will be made for projects under the Climate Action Fund; and if the criteria will be different than the last occasion. [30508/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Climate Action Fund was established on a statutory basis with effect from 1 August 2020, following on from the enactment of the National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Act, 2020. The Climate Action Fund will be resourced from proceeds from the levy paid to the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) in respect of relevant disposals of petroleum products, after the funding requirements of NORA have been met. In the region of €500 million is expected to accrue to the Climate Action Fund to 2027 as a result of this legislative change. This will ensure that substantial funding is available to progress future calls of funding.

In terms of a further calls, preparations are underway to launch a second call for applications for support from the Climate Action Fund in December this year. The scope of the call, and associated criteria and terms and conditions, are being finalised. The design of this call is being informed by information gathered in the “Expression of Interest” process earlier this year and from lessons learned from the first call. My Department is seeking to offer greater clarity and support to potential applicants aimed at increasing the number of successful bids and the quality of the applications that may be supported in the next round. To assist in this regard, my Department will engage further with interested parties, through our website, as part of the next funding call.