Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

322. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress made to include reference in all new statements of strategy to all sustainable development goal targets for which his Department has lead responsibility as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan 2018-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25754/21]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

My Department published its Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 on 19 January 2021.  It is available on the gov.ie website at this link: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/7e2cea-statements-of-strategy-2011-2019/ 

The Strategy has been informed by my priorities and relevant commitments in the Programme for Government and the overall strategic context in which my Department operates.  

The Department’s Mission for 2021-2023 will be to serve the public interest through sound governance of public expenditure and by leading and enabling reform across the Civil and Public Service.  In support of this mission, it will pursue two strategic goals, as follows:

- To manage public expenditure at sustainable levels in a planned, balanced and evidence informed manner, in order to support Ireland’s economic, social and climate goals; and

- To drive reform and innovation across the Civil and Public Service to improve service delivery to the public, and to enhance strategic policy making and public governance structures.

These goals, and the actions underpinning them, have been set at a relatively high level and provide a robust framework to support the implementation of the Department's broad remit, including its role in respect of the Sustainable Development Goals.  Details of the specific actions to be undertaken by the Department in respect of the Sustainable Development Goals are set out in the Government’s National Implementation Plan, referred to above. 

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.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

323. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the specific sustainable development goal targets his Department is responsible for implementing; the progress made in implementing those targets since 26 April 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25772/21]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Overall political oversight for national 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.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Group specifically leads on two specific sub-actions under Sustainable Development Goals 9 and 12. These sub-actions relate to the delivery of resilient and sustainable infrastructure, and promoting of sustainable public procurement practices respectively. The following sections provide an update on the latest guiding policies and work programmes that are being progressed to meet the requirements of the Sustainable Development Goals.  

Sub-action under SDG goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Update on building resilient and sustainable infrastructure

The current guiding policy is Project Ireland 2040, which consists of my Department’s National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 – 2027 and the National Planning Framework as led by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The current NDP sets out total investment of approximately €116 billion across all sectors and this will allow Ireland to move close to the top of the international league table for public investment.

Climate Action and Sustainability were core to the design of both the NDP and the National Planning Framework. Both policies address 10 key National Strategic Objectives, with one of the strategic outcomes identified being “Transition to a Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Society”. As a result, €21.8 billion has been prioritised for investment in the low carbon transition, with a further €8.6 billion allocated for investment in sustainable public transport. Specific investments identified include flagship investment programmes such as supports for energy efficiency and retro-fitting, to the delivery of major new public transport projects such as MetroLink and BusConnects. In addition, the €500 million Climate Action Fund is also providing funding on a competitive basis for initiatives that contribute to the achievement of Ireland’s climate and energy targets or offer the potential for innovative interventions in these sectors. More generally the approach to sustainable compact growth that is set out in the National Planning Framework and the NDP will support a more balanced pattern of development across the country. This will put an end to the urban sprawl of the past and support greater sustainability and climate resilience.

As you may be aware, a review of the NDP is currently taking place. In line with the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals, this review is focused on how Project Ireland 2040 can be further supported to deliver on the policy priorities in the Programme for Government, particularly climate action. The NDP Review is also focused on balanced regional growth and alignment with Ireland's spatial strategy of NPF. The Phase 1 report of the NDP review was published on April 4th 2021, and forms part of the evidence base for finalising the drafting of the revised NDP.  Phase 2 of the review will be a revised NDP setting ten year capital ceilings out to 2030 alongside five year rolling departmental capital ceilings and priorities and is planned to be published in Summer 2021.

Sub-action under SDG goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Update on the promotion of sustainable public procurement practices

Metrics are key to enable monitoring and verification of any measures introduced aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of public works projects.  In this regard the Office of Government Procurement is currently engaged with the International Construction Measurement Standard (ICMS) coalition in the development of an international reporting system for whole life carbon in the built environment.  The ICMS coalition anticipate that ICMS 3rd Edition, incorporating Life Cycle Analysis, will be available for public consultation by September 2021.

In addition to the work on developing standard metrics, consideration is also being given to the following:

- The incorporation of Life Cycle Analysis into the design stage,

- The availability of open source Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) to industry,

- Development of award criteria for assessment of tenders incorporating Life Cycle Analysis,

- Development of guidance for the incorporation and evaluation of Life Cycle Analysis in public procurement.

The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) published an Information Note on Incorporating Social Considerations into Public Procurement in late 2018. This note helps policy makers and practitioners understand how procurement can be used to facilitate the advancement of existing social policy objectives, including environmental sustainability, as well as the wider context and implications of including them in particular procurement projects.

In 2019, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issued Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement. This instructed departments to consider including green criteria in public procurement processes, where defined and measurable criteria exist. The OGP contributed to a revision of Green Procurement – Guidance for the Public Sector, led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which, in addition to broad guidance on Green Public Procurement (GPP), will describe defined, measurable, and up to date ‘Irish GPP criteria’ for 10 priority sectors. This will greatly assist public bodies to include green criteria in their procurement, in line with Circular 20/2019. The OGP also assisted the EPA in developing training in this area aimed at procurement practitioners and is currently contributing to a steering committee set up by Eastern and Midlands Climate Action Regional Office to address the need for training in the use of GPP across the local authority sector.

Circular 20/2019 also requires Departments to incorporate relevant green procurement measures into their planning and reporting cycles. A GPP monitoring and reporting template, capturing the frequency and value of green criteria in public procurements over €25,000, was developed by the EPA, with input from the OGP. This will feature in the Annual Report of each government department from 2021.

The OGP chairs a cross-departmental Strategic Procurement Advisory Group, bringing together officials from policy Departments with procurement practitioners to share best practice and to facilitate the process of incorporating social and environmental considerations into public procurement. This year, the OGP and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications together set up an Environmental subgroup of the Strategic Procurement Advisory Group, to allow more detailed, technical, discussion of environmental considerations with experts including from the EPA and Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.