Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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142. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the expected funding to be made available from the Climate Action Fund between 2021 and 2030 to deliver on the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55599/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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At least €500 million will be available from the Climate Action Fund over the period to 2027 to support projects, initiatives and research that contribute to the achievement of Ireland’s climate and energy targets and goals. In addition, the Government will make major investments through substantial other funding, set out in the National Development Plan.

To date, just over €140 million has been committed from the Climate Action Fund for a range of projects, including in relation to district heating, EV infrastructure, creative climate action, co-financing for EU LIFE projects, and a Community Climate Action Programme. Through the Community Climate Action Programme, announced last week, €60 million will be invested in community climate action projects and initiatives, as well as capacity building, over the next three years.  

As a next step, an open call will be developed for launch in 2022 aimed at  providing funding for further projects aligned with the direction of travel of the Climate Action Plan 2021. 

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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143. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the expected funding to be made available from the Just Transition Fund between 2021 and 2030 to deliver on the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55600/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government is committed to a just transition in the Midlands region and has dedicated significant funding to supporting workers, companies and communities affected by the closure of the ESB's peat-fired power stations and the end of peat harvesting by Bord na Móna.

The National Just Transition Fund was made available in 2020 to support communities transitioning to a low carbon economy. The focus is on retraining workers and generating sustainable employment in green enterprise across the region. To date, 47 projects have entered into contract and are delivering their projects, with over €15 million to be provided in grant funding from the National Just Transition Fund. These projects are to be concluded by the end of 2023. Details of all projects supported by the Just Transition Fund can be found on: www.gov.ie/en/publication/ed10d-just-transition-fund/.

Funding of €84 million will be allocated to Ireland from the EU Just Transition Fund by the European Union over the period 2021 to 2027, supported by additional co-funding from the Exchequer of up to 50%.  The EU Just Transition Fund will be used to alleviate the socio-economic impacts of the low carbon transition in the most affected regions across the EU by, for example, supporting the re-skilling of workers and helping to create new economic opportunities.

In addition to the National and EU Just Transition Funds, the Government has approved funding of €108 million for Bord na Móna’s large-scale peatlands restoration project, which will see Bord na Móna reassign employees from peat harvesting activities into rehabilitation operations, while supporting and restoring the biodiversity of the peatlands. This plan and the National Parks and Wildlife Service Peatlands Scheme will  support 350 jobs (or 230 full-time equivalents). 

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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144. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to foster the use of green hydrogen in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55616/21]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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145. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the State supports which are available to support the adoption of green hydrogen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55618/21]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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146. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the European Commission hydrogen strategy; the extent to which his Department has engaged with the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55619/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 to 146, inclusive, together.

The Programme for Government recognises the need for research and development of hydrogen from renewable sources, known as ‘green hydrogen’, for use in power generation and as a zero-emission energy source in difficult-to-decarbonise sectors such as transport and industry.

While there are no specific supports for green hydrogen currently in place, the role of green hydrogen and the need for its future development have been set out in the 2021 Climate Action Plan, which was published on 4 November 2021. The role of green hydrogen could include providing a back-up for intermittent renewables, seasonal storage of renewable energy to replace today's fossil fuel storage systems (used in electricity, industry, heating in buildings, and transport) and security and resilience in energy supplies. 

In July 2020, the European Commission published a hydrogen strategy for a carbon-neutral Europe. Ireland supported the hydrogen strategy, including the need to deploy green hydrogen in line with the Programme for Government. It is expected that green hydrogen will form a key element of the European Commission's proposals in relation to the gas market which are expected to be published next month.