Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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150. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way his Department is assisting Youth Climate Justice efforts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48695/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department’s Youth Climate Justice Fund provides funding to eligible youth organisations for youth-led initiatives working to achieve a range of youth climate justice goals. Funding of €500,000 was made available in both 2020 and 2021 to support climate youth justice projects within the areas of network-building and communications, research, awareness-raising, influencing policy-makers, the development of resources and digital tools, and introducing practical climate justice changes within local communities.

My Department facilitated the Environmental Protection Agency’s consultation with young people on its strategy and priorities for the period 2021-2025.

Additionally, my Department designed and facilitated climate conversations specifically for young people, and hosted in-depth local and national youth climate conversations, to input into the National Dialogue on Climate Action.

Furthermore, my Department supports the work of the Comhairle na nÓg National Executive which addresses Climate Change with a specific focus on “sustainable transport solutions” as voted by Comhairle members during Dáil na nÓg 2019, held in Leinster House .

My Department will establish a Youth Climate Council as an enduring structure to support young people’s input into policy developments, based on input from a Youth Advisory Group and feedback from the National Dialogue conversations.

Later this year, my Department will host an event to celebrate the achievements of young people to date in respect of the Youth Climate Justice Fund and to hear their views on its future development.