Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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73. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when his Department expects to produce its updated National Energy and Climate Plan. [11573/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In accordance with the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action Regulation, Ireland's National Energy & Climate Plan (NECP) 2021-2030 was submitted to the European Commission last year. The NECP took into account energy and climate policies developed up to that point, the levels of demographic and economic growth identified in the Project Ireland 2040 process and included the climate and energy measures set out in the National Development Plan 2018-2027 and 2019 Climate Action Plan. Under the Programme for Government, Ireland is committed to achieving a 7% annual average reduction in greenhouse gas emissions between 2021 and 2030 which represents a significant step up in ambition relative to that underpinning the NECP. The European Council also decided in December 2020  to increase ambition from its existing EU-wide 2030 target of 40% reduction to at least 55%, compared to 1990 levels.

Legislative proposals to implement the new EU 2030 target, including revising Member States’ existing targets for 2030, are expected to be presented by the Commission by June 2021. This increased ambition and the PfG commitments will be reflected in a revised  NECP.