Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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There are four Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs) which provide for a coordinated approach on climate action across the local government system. The CAROs were established in 2018 to support local government to respond and adapt to climate change. They coordinate national and local climate policy and work to ensure there is a more joined-up approach to responding to the climate crisis at a regional level.

The CAROs are a support organisation for Local Authorities and operate as a shared service across the local government sector. Each office works closely with the Local Authorities in their region to guide and inform them as they lead transformative change and measurable climate action in areas such as transport, biodiversity and preventing coastal erosion.

In September of this year, I was pleased to announce €12 million in funding for the CAROs for the period 2023 – 2029, to continue their work in supporting local government to coordinate and deliver climate actions, and in particular to develop their statutory Local Authority Climate Action Plans.

The Eastern and Midlands CARO will receive €3.09 million of this funding over the next six years to coordinate the delivery of climate action within its administrative region, which encompasses the counties of Carlow, Cavan, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, and Wicklow. The CARO Annual Work Programme for 2024 is currently being developed.