Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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110. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is satisfied with the reliance on technological fixes for carbon removal in the climate action Bill; the division of labour he anticipates between same and emissions reductions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35109/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government commits to achieve an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030, and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, including setting our 2050 target in law through the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill. Delivering our increased ambition to 2030 will require a doubling of effort from that set out in the 2019 Climate Action Plan. The 2019 Climate Action Plan represented an annual average emissions reduction of 3.5% on an economy-wide basis, and indicated how this effort would be allocated across sectors in the non-ETS Sector (Transport, Energy, Built Environment, Industry). This included increased reliance on renewables from 30% to 70%, accelerated shift to EVs with target of 950,000 EVs on the road by 2030 and retrofits to approximately 500,000 homes of B2 BER rating. The next iteration of the Climate Action Plan will need to identify additional initiatives in every sector, beyond the 2019 Plan, to meet the increased scale and depth of our ambition.

While it is not possible to indicate the specific policies at this time, it will be informed by further detailed technical modelling and research, and require measures to reduce and remove greenhouse gases which offer the least burdens and the greatest opportunities in our pathway to decarbonise. Nature-based solutions and sustainable land management practices, such as carbon sinks and rewetting peatlands, will have a significant role in contributing to balancing certain greenhouse gases. These measures will be coupled with emerging technological means developed and identified over time.

The increased scale and depth of our climate ambition is consistent with the approach being discussed at EU level. Both domestically and at EU level, it is recognised that we are not yet in a position to identify all the emerging technologies, changing scientific consensus or policies to meet our full ambition. However, committed research in the area and the continued intensive updating of mitigation measures over the decade, and beyond, will ensure that we remain on course to achieve our climate ambition.

To this end, the Bill provides for a significantly strengthened climate governance structure which includes annual revisions to the Climate Action Plan to address the need for intensive and regular monitoring and updating of policy actions to ensure we remain on track and within our emission limits.

To ensure that Ireland is at the cutting edge of scientific and technological innovation in meeting our climate targets, the Programme for Government also commits to introducing a transformational programme of research and development. For 2020, my Department provided €12.5million to the EPA and SEAI to undertake research and development activities in the field of climate, energy and low carbon. Research funding is also provided to the Geological Survey Ireland for this area, which has an increased total budget of €1.65 million in 2020.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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111. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the discussions he has had regarding the European green deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34997/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport, I have welcomed and strongly support the objectives of the European Green Deal, which aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, while boosting the competitiveness of European industry and ensuring a just transition for the regions and workers affected. It includes a number of legislative proposals, new strategies and action plans, financing instruments and non-legislative initiatives, which span all sectors. In recognition of the investment required to decarbonise our economies, the EU’s €750 billion Next Generation EU recovery package and €1 trillion budget require that money can only be spent on projects that meet certain green criteria, with 30% of all funding to go on climate change mitigation. Ireland will seek to maximise the drawdown of its share of this funding. I have supported increased climate ambition at EU level through the European Green Deal, while asserting the importance of cost-effectiveness and fairness across Member States in pursuit of increased ambition. The Programme for Government has a Green New Deal for Ireland as a core mission. It commits to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030 - a 51% reduction over the decade - and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, the latter being consistent with EU 2050 ambition. The Climate Action (Amendment) Bill, currently in pre-legislative scrutiny, will strengthen the governance structure in supporting Ireland’s response to climate breakdown, and will set the 2050 decarbonisation target in law.

The Programme for Government commits to far-reaching policy changes across every sector to deliver this expanded and deepened climate ambition including: delivering a National Aggregated Model of Retrofitting reaching over 500,000 homes by 2030 in line with the EU Renovation Wave; a major drive to realise the immense potential of Ireland’s offshore renewables as part of the EU’s clean energy transition; and implementing a major Waste and Circular Economy Action Plan also supporting EU ambition in these areas under the European Green Deal. The measures required to achieve this ambition will be set out in an updated Climate Action Plan in 2021.

The need for a socially just transition must be reflected in policies at EU and national level. We are committed to ensuring that no sector of society or community is left behind in the movement to a low-carbon future. The Just Transition Fund is a key pillar of the Government’s just transition plan for the Midlands region. A 2020 fund of €11 million is available for projects focusing on retraining workers and proposals to generate sustainable employment in green enterprise in the region, and supporting communities to transition to a low carbon economy.

In terms of national financing more generally, €30.4 billion is allocated for investment in climate action over the lifetime of Ireland's National Development Plan 2018 – 2027. As part of the July Jobs Stimulus Plan, to help businesses adapt to the green economy, €10 million will be provided to support businesses engaging in green research, development and innovation, capital investment, and capacity building, through the first phase of a new Green Enterprise Fund. Budget 2021 funding reflects this Government’s ambition for a green, jobs-led recovery. In total, across Government, €286.5 million has been committed to retrofit activity, and €1.8 billion funding was announced for sustainable transport, cycling, walking, and greenways. The Government has announced review of the National Development Plan, which will look at the appropriate amounts of funding across various areas such as climate action, housing and transport, and will be consistent with the Programme for Government.​

In addition, Ireland is preparing a National Recovery and Resilience Plan to be submitted to the European Commission by 30 April 2021 in order to receive funding under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. Our plan will set out a coherent package of reforms and public investment projects to be implemented up to 2026 and will include measures aimed at addressing the challenges faced by the green and digital transition.

I am fully committed to engaging with the European process to deliver on the European Green Deal Programme and my Department will continue to work with the European Commission so that Ireland contributes appropriately, while ensuring that our national circumstances are well reflected in the outcome.

Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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112. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status work within his Department to identify land and facilities which could be of interest for alternative green enterprises in the midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27381/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The first progress report of the Just Transition Commissioner, Mr Kieran Mulvey, published on 22 May, reflects a comprehensive engagement with relevant stakeholders in the Midlands, setting out the analysis of the challenges facing the region, and for Bord na Móna workers, their families and communities, arising from an accelerated exit from peat harvesting. The report contains important recommendations. The Government is already acting on a number of these and is committed to preparing an implementation plan to address the remainder, which I intend to publish in the coming weeks. The recommendations and associated actions will support job creation efforts and create new opportunities for Bord na Móna workers in the Midlands. In relation to the recommendation that relevant public bodies with a presence in the region identify land and facilities which could be of interest for alternative green enterprises, the Government’s initial response to the Commissioner’s report noted the extensive range of green energy projects underway or proposed in the Midlands, including the Lumcloon battery storage project, the Rhode Energy Business Park, and several other developments by Bord na Mona, the ESB and others. This initial response committed to further engagement with State agencies and enterprises to identify land and facilities which could be used for further such projects.

A number of other actions, already underway, will also support the objective of this recommendation.

Following a commitment in the Programme for Government, a feasibility study into the establishment of a Green Energy Hub, using the existing infrastructure in the West Offaly and Lough Ree power plants, has now commenced. This is being overseen by a Steering Group chaired by the ESB, and includes representatives of my Department, relevant Local Authorities, and the Just Transition Commissioner. I expect that this work will be concluded by the end of this year.

The Government has committed €15 million, as part of the July Stimulus Plan, in order to commence a multi-year programme to rehabilitate 33,000 hectares of Bord na Móna peatlands. This funding will support a just transition by maintaining jobs in the Midlands, as well as laying the foundation for more substantial and sustainable job creation into the future. The enhanced rehabilitation scheme will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by significantly increasing the area of wetland habitats in post-production peatlands. Further additional benefits include increasing biodiversity, improving water quality and supporting bog eco-system services.

My Department’s call for proposals under the Just Transition Fund for innovative projects that contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the Wider Midlands region, and which have employment and enterprise potential, has identified a number of possible opportunities for collaboration between public bodies and private enterprises. My Department published an initial list of sixteen successful projects on 9 September and additional projects will be approved shortly. The outcome of this project evaluation process will inform my Department’s approach to further engagement with relevant state bodies and the future roles for relevant Local Authorities and for the Midlands Regional Transition Team in this context.