Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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175. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the main policy achievements of his Department since 27 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61648/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department publishes an annual report each year which outlines the progress made towards realising the Department’s vision of a climate neutral, sustainable and digitally connected Ireland.The 2020 and 2021 reports are available at the following links:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/86651-annual-report-2020/

www.gov.ie/en/publication/92514-annual-report-2021/

The 2022 Annual Report will be published during 2023. Key achievements for 2022 include:

- Approval of carbon budgets by the Houses of the Oireachtas;

- Approval of sectoral emissions ceilings by Government effective from 28 July 2022;

- Overall delivery rate for Climate Action Plan 21 measures that were due to have been completed by the end of Q3 was 77%

- New solid fuel regulations introduced on 31 October 2022;

-A new package of enhanced retrofit supports was launched in February 2022 with almost 41,000 applications for support received (up 152% year-on-year) and over 18,400 home energy upgrades completed (up 59% year-on-year);

- 1836 MW of renewable generation was successful in the second RESS auction - a total of 75 projects;

- The Maritime Area Consent (MAC) application window opened in Q2 with provisional decisions advised to the first batch of offshore wind farm applicants in Q3;

- The National Energy Security Framework was published outlining measures connected to energy security across the electricity, gas and oil sectors and sets out a ‘whole-of-Government’ response to the challenges posed to energy security and energy affordability;

- The Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 was signed into law in July 2022;

- The Deposit Return Scheme Ireland was launched in November 2022;

The first National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap,setting out a series of actions to ultimately halve our food waste by 2030, was published in November 2022;

- Progress continued in the delivery of the National Broadband Plan which is on track to have 102,000 premises passed by end Jan 2023; and

- The capacity development of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) continued with the Director appointed in January 2022 and the NCSC on target to complete appointment of 45 staff by early January 2023.