Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

19. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 83 of 20 September 2022, the details of any engagement he has had since September 2022 with Galway City Council and Galway County Council with regard to supporting and promoting efforts at local government level on climate action; the details of any engagement he has had in 2022 with the Atlantic Seaboard North CARO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55010/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act, 2021 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 from when I formally issue a request to the sector to begin the preparation of such plans. This will be made not later than 18 months after the commencement of the Act.

I recognise that Local Authorities will need to be supported in the delivery of their Climate Action Plans. This is why I have allocated €3.5million in 2022 to support the Local Authorities in securing resources to begin the process of developing these plans, and will continue to provide funding to the sector over the coming years. In this regard, my Department issued a letter to the Chief Executive of each Local Authority on 26 October of this year confirming the provision of these resources. Beyond this letter being issued by my Department, I have had no direct engagement with Galway City Council and Galway County Council with regard to supporting and promoting efforts at local government level on climate action. However, my Department continues to work with the four Climate Action Regional Offices (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 and the CARO Management Group which meet 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.