Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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399. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide data associated with his Department’s air travel and air travel associated with agencies under the aegis of his Department (details supplied) from 1 January 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4243/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In line with Circular 01/2020 issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Government Departments, Offices and agencies are, with effect from 1 January 2020, required to record, monitor, and value the greenhouse gas emissions associated with official air travel usage and, no later than 28 February each year, make a payment to the Fund Manager of the statutory Climate Action Fund related to these emissions for the preceding year.

The table below sets out details of payments made to the Fund Manager in respect of Carbon Emissions due on air travel associated with my Department for the years 2020 and 2021.

The return for 2022 is not due until 28 February 2023.  Therefore these figures are not yet readily available.

The only State body under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board.  The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act 1927 to provide for the payment of pensions, allowances and gratuities in certain circumstances to members of the Defence Forces.  There was no air travel recorded by the Army Pensions Board in the period in question.