Written answers

Tuesday, 18 May 2021

Department of Rural and Community Development

Sustainable Development Goals

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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730. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress made to include reference in all new statements of strategy to all sustainable development goal targets for which her Department has lead responsibility as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan 2018-2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25755/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a significant and ambitious policy agenda that concerns all Government Departments.

The first National Implementation Plan (2018-2020), published in 2018, set out Ireland’s strategy to achieve the SDGs both domestically and internationally. The Goals are mainstreamed in domestic policy and the governance structure reflects a whole-of-government approach and ensures coordination and coherence, in particular where goals cover areas of shared responsibility.

19 Actions were included in the first National Implementation Plan. Action 4 of the plan set out a commitment to include reference in all new Statements of Strategy to all SDG targets for which a Department has lead responsibility.

The development of the next SDG Implementation Plan has commenced, with the intention of publication later this year. A National Progress report will be incorporated into the Plan and will assess the progress on the 19 Actions, including the commitment set out under Action 4.

My Department aligns our policies with the specific goals and the targets in the Implementation Plan by placing the SDGs at the heart of our policies, including the Rural Development Policy, the Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities Strategy, the National Social Enterprise Policy and the National Volunteering Strategy.

The Sustainable Development Goals are referenced in the Department of Rural and Community Development’s Statement of Strategy 2021 – 2023, which was published earlier this year and is available online at

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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731. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the specific sustainable development goal targets her Department is responsible for implementing; the progress made in implementing those targets since 26 April 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25773/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Overall political oversight for national Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) implementation is provided through the Cabinet, with each Minister having specific responsibility for implementing individual SDG targets related to their Ministerial functions. The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) has responsibility for promoting the SDGs, and for overseeing their coherent implementation across Government.

The first National Implementation Plan (2018-2020), published in 2018, set out Ireland’s strategy to achieve the SDGs both domestically and internationally. An important element of this Plan is the SDG Policy Map and Matrix, which identified the lead and stakeholder Departments for each of the Goals and targets and also mapped national sectoral policies against the 17 SDGs and all 169 related targets, in order to identify which policies were most relevant to which SDGs and their associated targets.

The SDG Policy Map and Matrix enhances the ability of stakeholders to track Ireland’s implementation of specific SDGs and associated targets, and to assess Ireland’s response to the SDGs for potential policy gaps. It also supports and enhances cross-Government engagement in implementing each of the Goals and Targets. This policy map has recently been updated and is available online at gov.ie

My Department has aligned all of its policies with their respective SDG specific strategic development goal targets and has made the following progress in implementing those targets since 26 April 2018:

Our Rural Future

DRCD published Our Rural Future, a new 5-year Rural Development Policy in March last, with a whole-of-Government perspective, focusing on the sustainable social, economic and environmental development of rural Ireland.  The policy outlines over 150 measures for delivery during that timeframe, each of which are directly linked to at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal. 

Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities A five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland 2019-2024

The high-level objectives and actions set out in the Strategy support consultation, inclusion and participation of communities in public policy and decision-making at all levels, as well as specific actions in support of climate action and the implementation of SDGs.

The Strategy is aligned in particular to the following Goals and targets: 

SDG 4 Quality Education

Strategy Action 2.4  Develop education and training mechanisms based on the All Ireland Standards for Community Work for those charged with implementing and monitoring community development.

Strategy Action 2.5  Develop and support a continuum of education and training opportunities for –

- those involved in community work on a voluntary basis,

- people employed, but not qualified, in community work to acquire qualifications,

- continuous professional development for qualified, employed community workers, and

- other staff in organisations with a community development remit.

SDG 13 Climate Action

Strategy Objective11: Support community development and local development to engage with Climate Change adaptation and mitigation strategies.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels aligns to Action 1.4: Support Participative and deliberative approaches for developing public policy, including establishing a civic forum for formal dialogue between the sector and local and central government aligns to SDG goal 16.7

Strategy Objective 8 aligns to all SDGs: Strengthen and build understanding and capacity to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) National Implementation Plan.

Furthermore, my Department has convened a high-level Advisory Group to oversee the drafting of revised Local Economic and Community Planning (LECP) Guidelines in 2021, in conjunction with broad consultation, to support fit-for-purpose guidance, ensuring a level of consistency, drawing on Government, EU policy and best practice, while building on the experience gained from the implementation of the first iteration of LECPs. It is intended to include the need to fully consider the SDGs in the LECP of each Local Authority area in the guidelines, thus supporting the adoption and implementation of SDGs at a local and community level. 

National Volunteering Strategy 2020-2025

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The National Volunteering Strategy supports SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities.  The successful delivery of the Strategic Objectives outlined in the strategy will support the community, voluntary and charity sector and strengthen its capacity to contribute to civil society and help to achieve SDG 11.

Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities A five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland 2019-2024

The high-level objectives and actions set out in the Strategy support consultation, inclusion and participation of communities in public policy and decision-making at all levels, as well as specific actions in support of climate action and the implementation of SDGs.

The Strategy is aligned in particular to the following Goals and targets:

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

12.8 By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels

Action 1.4: Support Participative and deliberative approaches for developing public policy, including establishing a civic forum for formal dialogue between the sector and local and central government aligns to SDG goal 16.7

DRCD Statement of Strategy and Annual Report

From a Departmental perspective, the SDGs have been captured in our new Statement of Strategy and will be referenced in our upcoming 2020 Annual Report. Mens Sheds, supported by DRCD, are SDG Champions.

Departmental Schemes

LEADER can be aligned with SDG 8 as the programme supports job creation and enterprise development measures. In addition, projects that promote climate change that reduce the carbon footprint of rural communities and local industry may also be considered for funding.

In addition, the SuperValu TidyTowns competition is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The Sustainable Development Goals now form an integral part of the competition and the goals have been aligned to each of the eight competition categories. A specific SDG award is being introduced for 2021. A series of capacity building webinars have taken place for TidyTown Groups in 2021 including one dedicated to the SDG’s. The monthly TidyTowns newsletter provides information to circa 1,000 TidyTowns groups on how they can assist in achieving these goals in their community.

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