Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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218. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps that are being taken to progress the new just transition commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4308/22]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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219. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the drafting of legislation to establish a just transition commissioner on a statutory footing due by quarter 4 2022 as set out in the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4309/22]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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220. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the final report of the just transition commissioner due in quarter 4 of 2021 as set out in the Climate Action Plan will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4310/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 218 to 220, inclusive, together.

Mr. Kieran Mulvey was appointed as Just Transition Commissioner by the Government in November 2019 with the mandate to engage with those affected by the accelerated exit from peat for electricity generation in the Midlands region, and to recommend to Government the essential elements of a just transition for those workers and communities. The Commissioner has made an important contribution to the Government's overall just transition response in the Midlands region, helping to facilitate dialogue, and bringing forward concerns from affected communities, residents, workers, and businesses. I have received the Commissioner’s fourth progress report and I intend to publish it shortly. The Government has responded to the recommendations contained in the Commissioner’s earlier reports through the Midlands Implementation Plan, published as part of the Government’s Climate Action Plan 2021.

The Government has committed, through the 2021 Climate Action Plan, to establishing a statutory Just Transition Commission, with the general scheme of legislation to establish the Commission to be completed by the end of this year. The Climate Action Plan sets out that the purpose of this Commission will be to provide strategic advice to Government, integrating its role with existing governance and engagement structures, on how Government policy can further a just transition.

I intend to progress and develop proposals on the mandate of the statutory Just Transition Commission during the course of 2022 in advance of preparing the general scheme of legislation. In this context, and building on the work that he has undertaken to date in relation to the Midlands region, I intend that Mr. Mulvey will continue to support me in an advisory capacity on the development of policy to underpin the proposed statutory Just Transition Commission .

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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221. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when funding agreements to successful projects under the Just Transition Fund will be issued and finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4312/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government remains 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 peat-fired power stations and the end of peat extraction by Bord na Móna. To date, my Department has finalised grant agreements with 54 Just Transition Fund projects. The total value of projects in delivery is approximately €30 million, with €20.5 million of this to be provided by the National Just Transition Fund. These projects have reported that they will create an estimated 154 direct jobs and 932 indirect jobs. My Department is working with a small number of remaining applicants with a view to finalising grant agreements with these projects in the coming weeks. Further information on approved projects is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/ed10d-just-transition-fund/.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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222. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the territorial just transition plan and operational programme; when he envisages this will be submitted to the European Commission for approval as set out in the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4313/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The EU Just Transition Fund is a newly established fund for the 2021-2027 period, operating within the framework of EU cohesion policy. The Just Transition Fund seeks to address the adverse effects of the climate transition by supporting the most affected territories and workers concerned and to promote a balanced socio-economic transition. Ireland must prepare a Territorial Just Transition Plan and accompanying programme, for approval by the European Commission, in order to secure access to its allocation of €84.5 million under the EU Just Transition Fund. This plan and programme will set out Ireland’s proposed investment priorities as well as targeted sectors and regions. I have appointed the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) as managing authority for the fund, and my Department and the EMRA are jointly developing the Territorial Just Transition Plan and Programme.

I launched a public consultation on a draft of the Territorial Just Transition Plan on 20 December and this will remain open until 14 February. The draft plan provisionally identifies East Galway, North Tipperary, Longford, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, West Kildare and Roscommon as the functional territory to be targeted for investment under the plan.

Feedback on the draft plan is being gathered through an online survey as well as through online workshops open to interested stakeholders. A dedicated workshop is also planned to gather the views of young people aged 16-24 who are living, working, or studying in the wider Midlands region. The online survey seeks views on the impact of the climate transition, the development needs of the wider Midlands region, and comments on the draft Territorial Just Transition Plan. My Department and the EMRA have also held dedicated briefing sessions, respectively, for members of the Oireachtas and for members and staff of relevant Local Authorities from the identified counties.

The responses to the public consultation will be used to further develop and finalise the draft Territorial Just Transition Plan before it is agreed by the Government and submitted, together with the EU Just Transition Fund programme, to the European Commission for approval during the course of 2022.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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223. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of preparations for a youth climate assembly due in the second quarter of 2022 as set out in the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4314/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The National Youth Climate Assembly is a core deliverable of the Programme for Government and the National Dialogue on Climate Action. It is a collaboration between my Department and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and will be an annual event.The National Youth Climate Assembly will be comprised of 40 young people aged between 12 and 24 years of age who have been nominated by relevant organisations, including Comhairle na nÓg, youth organisations, student bodies, and community groups. 

The assembly will capture the voices of young people in Ireland on issues relating to climate change that are important to them. It will act as a central mechanism to include these opinions in the development of the annual Climate Action Plan and related sectoral policies.

It is currently in the final stages of preparation with plans to hold the first assembly by the end of March.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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224. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the new public sector strategy to achieve at least a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and 50% improvement in public sector energy efficiency by 2030 due to be approved by quarter 1 of 2022 as set out in the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4315/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Climate Action Plan 2021 includes a suite of policies and measures to ensure that the public sector will lead by example, inspiring the necessary climate action in wider society to reduce Ireland’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 51% by 2030, and to become climate neutral no later than 2050. Although the sector’s share of emissions is relatively small, it will play a broader leadership role as a catalyst for ambitious climate action.

One of the measures included is the preparation of a new  Public Sector Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Strategy. The Annex of Actions published alongside the Climate Action Plan has set a target delivery date for this strategy of Q1 2022. My Department is working to deliver this action on schedule.