Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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39. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the progress report on the Climate Action Plan. [11012/23]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Department of the Taoiseach prepares quarterly progress reports on the implementation of measures committed to under Climate Action Plans. The reports provide a detailed breakdown of completed and delayed actions each quarter.

Once approved by Government, they are published online for full transparency on climate action delivery.

The most recently compiled progress report was published on the 28^thof February, covering actions due for reporting in Q4 2022. This was the fourth and final progress report on the Climate Action Plan 2021.

An implementation rate of 64% was achieved specifically on those measures that were due in Q4 2022. Overall, 79% of the 965 measures that were due under the lifetime of the Climate Action Plan 2021 were completed.

High impact measures completed in Q4 2022 and spotlighted in the most recent progress report include:

- Ireland’s first offshore renewable energy auction commenced, and a consultation on the design of our third onshore auction launched.

- Ireland’s first all-electric bus service launched in Athlone.

- Restoration measures carried out on six raised bog sites covering an area of over 300 hectares.

- 4,550 green skills training places provided, with 60,000 modules made available to learners through the SOLAS Green Skills programme.

- A new Deposit and Return Scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans launched to promote the circular economy.

All delayed measures listed in the Q4 2022 Progress Report have been carried forward for consideration in the drafting of the new Annex of Actions for the Climate Action Plan 2023.

Quarterly progress reporting helps to maintain accountability and transparency for the delivery of climate actions across all Government Departments and Agencies and will continue under the Climate Action Plan 2023.