Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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160. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the obligations in respect of greenhouse gas reduction that have been set for public bodies; and the way delivery is being monitored. [20337/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Climate Action Plan 2019 set a target for the public sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030. The Programme for Government increased this ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2030.  

Work is well progressed on a methodology to assign each public sector body with an individual greenhouse gas emissions reduction target and I expect to bring this methodology to Government for approval shortly. A decarbonisation strategy for the public sector will follow the approval of this methodology. This Strategy will translate the analytical measurement and methodology work into policies, measures and actions to support the public sector meet their targets.  

The Monitoring and Reporting (M&R) System, established by the Sustainable Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department, allows all public bodies to report annually on their energy usage and actions taken to reduce consumption and meet their 2020 energy efficiency targets. In order to facilitate the reporting and tracking of progress towards the targets in the Climate Action Plan 2019 and the Programme for Government, the SEAI is currently redeveloping and enhancing the M&R system.  The new system will introduce a robust approach for public bodies to track progress towards their targets, including their greenhouse gas emissions and other reporting requirements such as the Clean Vehicles Directive.