Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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120. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the national youth climate assembly is on track to commence in early March 2022; the way that the assembly will be structured; the topics that members will consider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9359/22]

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. It will be an annual event which  allows the participation of children and young people in decision-making according to the National Participation Framework.

The first National Youth Climate Assembly will take place remotely on 2 March this year.  A preparatory meeting was held on 18 February.  This allowed the representatives attending to hear presentations from climate experts and participate in workshops on a wide variety of issues.

The National Youth Assembly will capture the views of young people on climate issues and allow them make recommendations to inform the development of the annual update of Climate Action Plan. A Youth Advisory Group has been convened to inform the design, format and methodology for the National Youth Climate Assembly. Participants were nominated by organisations, including Comhairle na nÓg, youth organisations, student representative bodies, and appropriate organisations to ensure a diverse and inclusive representation.

There will also be representation from the National Youth Assembly at the National Climate Stakeholder Forum.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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121. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 16 September 2021, the engagement he has had over the past six months with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to supporting and promoting efforts at local government level on climate action, particularly in relation to Galway city and county; the engagement he or his Department has had directly with Galway city and county councils in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10252/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act, 2021 (the Climate Act) strengthens the role of Local Authorities for effective climate action. It sets out a statutory requirement for each Local Authority to prepare a Climate Action Plan, within 12 months of the receipt of a request from the Minister; with the request to be made within 18 months of the coming into operation of the Climate Act. Local Authority plans will have to be consistent with national climate plans and strategies, and include both mitigation and adaptation measures, and are to be updated every five years. Local Authorities will liaise with each other in the preparation of these plans.

My Department is working with the Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Environmental Protection Agency to develop appropriate guidelines for the development and implementation of these plans. My Department continues to work with all four CAROs and stakeholders, including representatives from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, on a regular basis, in particular through participation in the National Local Authority Climate Action Steering Group which meets regularly. CAROs continue to work with Local Authorities to both facilitate and monitor implementation of local climate actions undertaken under existing local adaptation strategies, and the climate charter developed under the 2019 Climate Action Plan.

My Department also continues to fund the implementation of the Local Authority climate action training programme. This programme is increasing knowledge of climate change and the need for action among all Local Authority staff, and will facilitate both climate mitigation and adaptation at local level.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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123. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if an update will be provided on the just transition plans of his Department for communities in which peat-burning stations have been shut down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10265/22]

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 peat-fired power stations and the end of peat harvesting by Bord na Móna.The EU Just Transition Fund is a newly established fund which seek to address the adverse effects of the climate transition by supporting the most affected territories and workers concerned and promoting 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 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 EMRA are jointly developing the Plan and Programme. 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. I launched a public consultation on a draft of the Territorial Just Transition Plan on 20 December which was open until 14 February. The responses to the public consultation will be used to further develop and finalise the draft Plan before it is agreed by Government and submitted, together with the EU Just Transition Fund programme, to the European Commission for approval during the course of 2022.

Through the national Just Transition Fund over €20.5million is being provided in grant funding to 55 projects in the wider Midlands region. Funded projects are diverse and cover a range of opportunities throughout the region. Further details of these projects can be found at:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/ed10d-just-transition-fund/

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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124. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if an update will be provided on the establishment of a just transition commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10261/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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. My officials are currently progressing and developing proposals on the mandate of the statutory Just Transition Commission in advance of preparing the general scheme of legislation.

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. 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.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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125. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which he communicates with other Departments to ensure carbon reduction targets are met to the highest extent possible, having regard to the need to meet such targets but at the same time ensure the retention and continued development of the agrifood sector, incorporating best practice both to achieve targets and prevent energy or food shortages in what are becoming intensely competitive global markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10447/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In July 2021, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 was signed into law, significantly strengthening the legally binding framework to halve our emissions by 2030, compared to 2018, and set us on a pathway to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2050.

The new statutory framework also seeks to ensure delivery of successive Climate Action Plans, Long-term Climate Action Strategies, and National Adaptation Frameworks, supported by a system of carbon budgeting and sectoral targets, with appropriate oversight by Government, the Oireachtas and the Climate Change Advisory Council.

The processes to develop and implement these plans and frameworks requires my Department and I to consult frequently and in a substantive manner with all relevant Ministers and their Departments.

The Climate Action Plan 2021 was published in November 2021. This plan includes additional policies and measures in every sector to bring about the significant changes needed to transform our society. It sets out actions that must be taken in every sector to ensure that we deliver on the statutory commitments in the Act.

The Climate Action Plan sets out an ambitious emissions reduction range for the agriculture sector of between 22% and 30% by 2030 when compared with a 2018 baseline. While the achievement of this target will require effort, I am confident that the sector will fully exploit the opportunities of the transition without compromising sustainable food production.

For example, one of the major actions included within the Climate Action Plan is an overall reduction in chemical nitrogen fertiliser use to 325,000 tonnes by 2030, aligning with the EU Farm-to-Fork Strategy. The Plan places significant emphasis on measures that will maintain grass productivity with reduced levels of chemical fertiliser use, including an increased use of lime and clover, as well as other multispecies swards which are less dependent on chemical nitrogen.

By implementing the measures contained within the Climate Action Plan, the agriculture sector can enhance its long-term sustainability, with co-benefits for water, air quality and biodiversity.In July 2021, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 was signed into law, significantly strengthening the legally binding framework to halve our emissions by 2030, compared to 2018, and set us on a pathway to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2050.

The new statutory framework also seeks to ensure delivery of successive Climate Action Plans, Long-term Climate Action Strategies, and National Adaptation Frameworks, supported by a system of carbon budgeting and sectoral targets, with appropriate oversight by Government, the Oireachtas and the Climate Change Advisory Council.

The processes to develop and implement these plans and frameworks requires my Department and I to consult frequently and in a substantive manner with all relevant Ministers and their Departments.

The Climate Action Plan 2021 was published in November 2021. This plan includes additional policies and measures in every sector to bring about the significant changes needed to transform our society. It sets out actions that must be taken in every sector to ensure that we deliver on the statutory commitments in the Act.

The Climate Action Plan sets out an ambitious emissions reduction range for the agriculture sector of between 22% and 30% by 2030 when compared with a 2018 baseline. While the achievement of this target will require effort, I am confident that the sector will fully exploit the opportunities of the transition without compromising sustainable food production.

For example, one of the major actions included within the Climate Action Plan is an overall reduction in chemical nitrogen fertiliser use to 325,000 tonnes by 2030, aligning with the EU Farm-to-Fork Strategy. The Plan places significant emphasis on measures that will maintain grass productivity with reduced levels of chemical fertiliser use, including an increased use of lime and clover, as well as other multispecies swards which are less dependent on chemical nitrogen.

By implementing the measures contained within the Climate Action Plan, the agriculture sector can enhance its long-term sustainability, with co-benefits for water, air quality and biodiversity.