Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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109. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the breakdown of the €108 million of State funding allocated to the bog rehabilitation scheme; the amount for decommissioning of power plants or peatland rehabilitation; the regularity with which this funding will be made available.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41218/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The recent Government approval of funding of up to €108 million for the Bord Na Móna Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme (Scheme) reaffirms our commitment to addressing the climate and biodiversity crises we are facing, and to ensuring a just transition in the midlands region.

The Scheme will protect the storage of 100 million tonnes of CO₂emissions, enhance biodiversity, create jobs, and contribute to Ireland being climate-neutral by 2050. Through the implementation of the Scheme, it is also estimated that over the period to 2050, 3.2 million tonnes of CO₂emissions will be avoided (including a small amount of carbon sequestration), in comparison to a standard rehabilitation scenario. 

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has been established as Scheme Regulator to ensure the effective oversight of the rehabilitation and restoration works. As Scheme Regulator, the NPWS will ensure that there is no overlap between the enhanced rehabilitation works carried out under the Scheme, and the obligations that Bord na Móna have under the terms of their Integrated Pollution Control licenses granted by the EPA. The NPWS will also assess and advise my Department regarding the allowed costs for enhanced rehabilitation improvements that may be recouped by Bord na Móna under the Scheme. There are no funds committed to the cost of decommissioning of power plants.

The funding of the scheme will be on a quarterly basis, with ex-post payments for vouched costs.