Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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240. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress that has been made towards the development of An Ghaeltacht Ghlas, the Green Gaeltacht as a key component of the Údarás na Gaeltachta Strategic Plan 2021-2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10429/22]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Údarás na Gaeltachta is currently preparing its strategy for An Ghaeltacht Ghlas, which will seek to identify an overarching view around climate action from the Gaeltacht perspective, coupled with distinct supporting actions, and an advisory working group.

The strategy will take into account various demographics and sectors, including industry, community development, youth and others. In the meantime, the organisation is implementing a range of actions around climate change:

Údarás na Gaeltachta is leading the development of a community-owned solar photo-voltaic renewable energy project in the Donegal Gaeltacht of Gaoth Dobhair, where the public consultation phase began last week.

An tÚdarás commissioned a feasibility study in 2020 to assess the suitability of an Údarás-owned site adjacent to Páirc Ghnó Dobhair (Gaoth Dobhair Business Park) for installation of a solar PV energy project as a means of reducing the Park's dependence on fossil fuel derived energy. The study indicated that the site would be suitable for a ground-mounted solar PV project and Údarás is currently working with Community Development organisations in Gaoth Dobhair around the development of a 5 MW project.

In An Cheathrú Rua, in the Galway Gaeltacht, a community-driven photovoltaic project recently acquired grid connection notice from the ESB, with the 140 KW project, being driven by Comharchumann Mhic Dara, contributing to the greening of An tÚdarás’s business park in An Cheathrú Rua and creating the first action around the Gaeltacht village’s stated aim of becoming a carbon-neutral peninsula. As part of the project, electric charging points for cars were also installed in the business park. The Comharchumann plan to undertake phase two of the PV solar project on the roofs of buildings in the business park in 2022 and are also looking at other possibilities in relation the development of green energy projects in the area.

The recent announcement by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine of a €25m investment in a deepwater harbour in Ros an Mhíl has come following the launch of Údarás na Gaeltachta’s report, showing the possibility of creating 900 Gaeltacht jobs in the offshore wind energy sector through the development of Ros an Mhíl as a wind energy hub.

Currently, An tÚdarás is in the midst of an assessment of its commercial property portfolio, around energy efficiency and the potential for roof-top energy generation.

Údarás na Gaeltachta is also working with Gaeltacht communities around biodiversity and tree-planting projects, with a recent pilot rewilding programme completed in boglands in Iorras Aithneach, with a view to developing the boglands to act as carbon sinks. As part of the Bealach Séanadh Mhacha Project, Údarás na Gaeltachta have secured funding to prepare and implement a bio-diversity plan for the Séanadh Mhacha area. The plan will be designed to protect all biological systems and to minimise the impact of drivers on all species and habitats in the project area.

Údarás na Gaeltachta, in conjunction with Galway County Council and Comhairle Ceantar na nOileáin, is proposing to develop a Low Carbon Sustainable Centre of Excellence in the Connemara Region. The centre will house the following projects:

- A Civic Amenity/Recycling Centre

- A low carbon Retrofit Training and NZEB Training Centre

- Development of an Incubation and Innovation centre for the promotion of low carbon policies and renewables.

In line with the Climate Action Plan 2019, it is proposed that the centre in Casla will endeavour to transform the community’s approach to waste, this is in line with modern, circular economy principles. This will involve a change of mind-set trough education and promotion of recycling thus ensuring the protection of our natural and man-made resources and the environment.

The planned development of Páirc na Mara - a low carbon, green energy efficient innovation & marine park - will be a flagship project and will play a significant role in the local master plan by including ongoing research and development in delivering a low carbon and energy efficient project on site.

An tÚdarás is working closely with the Lárionad Acmhainní Nádúrtha project in Donegal, which has recently acquired RRDF funding around the development of a biodiversity hub for the north-west on an Údarás’s site in Cill Ulta.

Údarás na Gaeltachta provided an online training course for development organisations in the Gaeltacht areas in 2020 and 2021. The training included awareness programmes and thematic workshops in relation to specific development sectors. One of the sectors covered was green energy and community renewable energy initiatives. This has resulted in a number of community organisations' participation in renewable energy projects. Information on training, education and funding opportunities in this sector is provided to community organisations on a regular basis by the Community Development Unit in Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Údarás na Gaeltachta is continuing to work in collaboration with Comharchumann Fuinneamh Oileán Árann on a number of projects . For example, by organising online workshops in relation to raising community energy awareness and also by providing mentoring services to a number of community development organisations in relation to developing plans for renewable energy projects in their respective areas.