James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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122. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has carried out an analysis of infrastructure projects in the revised national development plan in respect of the new climate action plan targets for sectoral emissions reductions; if not, if his Department will do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56467/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the NDP review completed in October 2021, an assessment was undertaken of the contribution that the Exchequer-funded capital spending in the NDP will make to 7 climate and environmental outcomes – climate mitigation, climate adaptation, water quality, air quality, waste & circular economy, nature & biodiversity and just transition. Priority investment programmes included in the NDP were assessed on the above environmental outcomes given a score of +3 or +1 if the estimated impact was positive, 0 if the impact was neutral, and -1 or -3 if the estimated impact was negative. Departments were initially asked to self assess their programmes based on the criteria above and those scores were reviewed by a panel of experts across the public sector.

A measure’s cumulative score, across all outcomes, was then used to determine that measure’s overall climate and environmental impact. In total, 128 measures were assessed. 67% were deemed on balance to have an overall positive impact. 17% where deemed to be neutral, while 16% of measures were tagged as having a net unfavourable impact on climate and environmental outcomes.

A positive assessment was not an endorsement of the proposed measures while a negative assessment does not mean that these measures are incompatible with the achievement of Ireland’s climate and environmental objectives. An unfavourable assessment demonstrates that there should be an increased focus on ensuring that the climate and environmental impact of this investment is minimised in so far as is possible.

It was not the role of the NDP Review to set out a specific blueprint for the achievement of Ireland’s climate targets. Rather, the Departments in receipt of the capital investment allocations for the climate and environmental strategic priorities they have identified are directly responsible for developing a detailed suite of policies and measures to maximise the impact of this planned investment. It is the effective implementation of these policies, which will need to blend regulation, behavioural change and financial measures with direct Government investment that will lead to the achievement of Ireland’s climate ambitions.