Written answers

Tuesday, 9 April 2024

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Departmental Data

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Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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67. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide a breakdown of all current taskforces under his Department’s remit, in tabular form; to report on the objectives and progress of each taskforce; if he plans to set up any additional taskforces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13750/24]

Photo of Francis Noel DuffyFrancis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party)
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68. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide a breakdown of all current taskforces under his Department’s remit, in tabular form; to report on the objectives and progress of each taskforce; if he plans to set up any additional taskforces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13751/24]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 68 together.

There are seven key delivery taskforces in operation in my Department. These taskforces were established to accelerate delivery in a number of key programme areas for Government. The table below sets out the objectives and progress of each taskforce in this Department along with relevant links to further information where available. There are presently no plans to establish further delivery taskforces. There are other taskforces in the Department of Transport, Enterprise and Agriculture that officials from my department participate in.

Taskforce Objective Progress
Offshore Wind Delivery (est. 2022) To drive delivery of offshore wind targets in the Climate Action Plan, and to mobilise the Irish economy towards realising associated economic and societal opportunities through effective cross-Government collaboration. The Taskforce terms of reference, key actions for 2023 and minutes of meetings, are available www.gov.ie/en/publication/c8749-offshore-wind-delivery-taskforce/ The Taskforce has met fourteen times. In addition, the Taskforce has held sessions with the offshore wind industry, represented by Wind Energy Ireland (WEI) and Marine Renewables Industry Association (MRIA to exchange updates on the latest policy and industry developments. The Taskforce published its key actions for 2023 in March 2023. In Q2 2024, an Annual Review for 2023 will be published, along with key actions for 2024. This report will detail progress made by each of the workstreams under the Offshore Wind Energy Programme, and will also look forward to some of the headline actions that workstreams will progress throughout 2024.
Climate Communications and Engagement Taskforce (est. 2022) To provide oversight for the design, implementation, and coordination of the National climate communications and engagement programme. The Taskforce has met twice yearly since its establishment in 2022. Recommendations from this Taskforce, highlighting the importance of community engagement, informed the Citizen Engagement chapter in the Climate Action Plan 2024. It also informed the development of a plan for a year of engagement under the National Dialogue on Climate Action. This engagement campaign, entitled Climate Actions Work, was launched by Minister Ryan on 28th March 2024.
Land Use(est. 2022) To establish a framework for land and land use to play its part through the second phase of the land use review. The Taskforce has met three times in the context of the Climate Stakeholder Forums as part of the National Dialogue on Climate Action. Stakeholder engagement in the Land Use Review was a key focus of discussion at these fora.

Phase 2 of the Land-use Review, as committed to in the Programme for Government, commenced in October 2023 and will build on the evidence from Phase 1 which was published in March 2023. Further formal stakeholder engagement will be a key focus of this phase.
Heat and Built Environment(est. 2023) To accelerate and drive delivery in relation to retrofitting, renewable heat, district heat and decarbonisation of the building stock by:
  • identifying work on the critical path to key targets under each area;
  • ensuring alignment in the development of polices and activities underway across Government Departments; and
  • proactively managing risks to ensure targets are achieved.
    		•  The Taskforce terms of reference and minutes of meetings are available www.gov.ie/en/publication/097fa-heat-and-built-environment-taskforce/ The Taskforce has met nine times, with the tenth meeting scheduled. An implementation plan is in place collating all activities, outputs and projects underway across Government Departments and Agencies, and the related EU targets and those set out in the Climate Action Plan.Key outputs from the Taskforce include implementation of the District Heating Steering Group Report 2023 available www.gov.ie/en/publication/3f132-district-heating-steering-group/ Other outputs will include:
  • Identification of risks to delivery and mitigations required, (including with regard to the historic building stock)
  • Comprehensive oversight of state-led activity against the Implementation Plan to support detailed reporting on delivery
  • A biomethane strategy
  • A heat policy statement
  • A strategy for each Working Group
  • A roadmap for the phase out of fossil fuel heating systems
    		•
    Just Transition (est. 2023) To provide recommendations to the Minister, by Q1 2024, on the establishment of a Just Transition Commission. The Taskforce terms of reference and minutes of meetings are available www.gov.ie/en/publication/e3666-just-transition-taskforce/This Taskforce has now concluded its work. I have received a final report and recommendations in advance of consideration by the Government, with a view to establishing a Just Transition Commission at an early opportunity.
    Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce (est. 2023) To identify, coordinate, and prioritise the required policies needed to achieve the onshore renewable electricity, and related, targets and to ensure that barriers to the implementation of such policies are removed or minimised to the greatest extent possible. The Taskforce was established as a key action under Climate Action Plan 2023 and has met four times, with a fifth meeting planned for the coming weeks. The Taskforce Programme of Work, which will allow for a cohesive approach for the fast-tracking and increased deployment of onshore renewable electricity generation and supporting technologies, is expected to be published in the coming weeks.
    Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce To identify and overcome barriers to the deployment of fixed and mobile telecommunications services in the State, with particular regard to rural, isolated and under-served communities. This Taskforce was re-established in 2021, having previously operated over the period 2017-2019. The Taskforce is co-chaired by the Minister for Rural and Community Development (DRCD) and Minister of State Smyth at this Department. Since re-establishment, the Taskforce has met four times. A National Stakeholder Forum also took place in February 2023. The minutes of the meetings are available www.gov.ie/en/publication/522d2-mobile-phone-and-broadband-taskforce-meeting-minutes/ In April 2022, a three-year Work Programme was agreed with Taskforce members. An Annual Report for the first year of the programme is available www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/263160/6c471634-84cd-485c-84a0-214d0d9f5f47.pdf#page=null An Annual Report for the second year is currently being coordinated by DRCD. To date, actions 1 and 6 in the work programme have been completed and there has been consistent progress on the remaining actions.

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