Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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422. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the progress made by his Department in respect of targets and goals set out in sustainable development goals of the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development under the policy remit of his Department; and if these targets and goals will be met by their respective deadlines. [12906/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a significant and ambitious framework. A whole-of-Government approach to its implementation has been taken in Ireland.

Ireland’s Second National Implementation Plan for the Sustainable Development Goals, 2022 – 2024 was published in October 2022. The Plan was developed by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in collaboration with all Government Departments, key stakeholders, and based on input from two public consultation processes. A key objective of the Plan is to achieve greater policy coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD) with the aim of accelerating achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at all levels of Government.

The Plan is supplemented by two supporting documents: an SDG policy map which identifies the lead Departments and relevant national policies for each of the 169 SDG targets; and a Policy Update document which provides policy updates for each of the SDG targets. These documents are available at

The SDG Policy Map enhances the ability of stakeholders to track Ireland’s implementation of specific SDGs and associated targets, and to assess Ireland’s response to the SDGs for potential policy gaps. It also supports and enhances cross-Government engagement in implementing each of the Goals and Targets.

My Department has responsibility for leading on the following targets:

- SDG 1 ‘No Poverty’Target 1.5.

- SDG 6 ‘Clean Water and Sanitation’Targets 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5 & 6.6

- SDG 11 ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities’ Targets 11.1, 11.3, 11.7, 11.a & 11.b

- SDG 14 ‘Life below Water’ Targets 14.1, 14.2, 14.3 & 14.5

- SDG 15 ‘Life on Land’ Targets 15.3, 15.4, 15.5, 15.6, 15.7, 15.8, 15.9, 15.a & 15.c

My Department also has input into the following targets where another Department leads:

- SDG 2 ‘Zero Hunger’ Targets 2.4 & 2.5

- SDG 9 ‘Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure’ Targets 9.1 & 9.4

- SDG 11 ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities’ Target 11.4

- SDG 12 ‘Responsible Consumption and Production’ Target 12.8

- SDG 13 ‘Climate Action’ Targets 13.1 & 13.2

- SDG 14 ‘Life below Water’ Targets 14.4, 14.6 & 14.c

- SDG 15 ‘Life on Land’ Targets 15.1, 15.2 & 15.b

All Departments share responsibility under Goal 17 - Partnerships for the Goals.

My Department oversees the operation of the local government system, providing the policy framework within which local authorities work and deliver services to the communities that they represent and serve. My Department also supports local government in its role of promoting the well-being and quality of life of citizens and communities through the efficient performance of functions and delivery of good-value services at local level.

SDGs cover a breadth of areas in which local government is active. Individual aspects of SDGs are incorporated into the relevant policy agendas of local authorities, e.g. City and County Development Plans.

Further detail on my Department’s progress in respect of SDG targets and goals is set out in the attached table and also in the Policy Map on

The Central Statistics Office (CSO), in collaboration with all Government Departments, has prepared as series of statistical publications which monitor and report on how Ireland is progressing towards meeting its targets under the 17 SDGs. Reports are available for SDGs 1 – 16 and can be found on the CSO website at the following link: .

Ireland will present its second Voluntary National Review (VNR) to the United Nations High-Level Political Forum in July 2023. The VNR report will comprise a high-level data section and a more detailed appendix reporting on progress in respect of achieving the SDGs and related targets.