Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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236. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding provided by his Department to An Taisce in each of the years 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18838/21]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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252. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated amount of State funding provided by his Department to An Taisce each year for the past five years; if he has concerns regarding An Taisce’s remit and ability to cause huge delays to developments of significant importance to the farming community in the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19287/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 252 together.

While as the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, I have no legal function in relation to An Taisce, my Department provides it with funding for a variety of initiatives, including the National Spring Clean; the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) National Litter League; and the Green Schools programme. A total of €5.4 million has been provided between 2012 and 2020 in respect of a range of such environmental activities and public awareness initiatives, with total annual allocations set out in the table below:

The estimated allocation for 2021 is in line with the 2020 allocation of  €675,000. Final details on payments in 2021 will not be available until the end of the year.

An Taisce is a non-governmental organisation active in the areas of the environment and built heritage in Ireland. The link to the website of the organisation may be helpful to the Deputy.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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237. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding allocated by his Department from 1 January 2020 to date to each member body of an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18839/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I am very aware of the important work done by the member organisations of the Irish Environmental Network (IEN).  These national environmental NGOs are active on a broad range of environmental issues, including wildlife conservation, biodiversity and climate change. I recognise that, in addition to the climate and biodiversity challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to communities and society.  IEN members have had to adapt quickly in response to this changing operating environment, developing new skills and tools to shift activities online.The IEN are introducing contingency plans for 2021 to support its members' activities, which will include virtual events, the roll-out of a web-based communications platform, and grants to offset the costs of remote working.  The IEN and its members face increased operating and administration costs to fund these activities.

In this context, I recently approved an annual allocation of funding to the IEN from the Environment Fund. I will be providing funding of €1,764,000 for the IEN and its constituent members in 2021. This is an increase of €704,000 on the level of funding provided in 2020.  This funding is granted subject to the recipients complying with the provisions of Department of Finance Circular 13 of 2014, “Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds”.

The IEN is an independent umbrella organisation for environmental NGOs with its own corporate governance structures.  The distribution and allocation of funding to its members is decided by the IEN.  Member organisations are requested by the IEN to submit funding proposals, and member applications for core funding are then evaluated by an independent panel of adjudicators.