Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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114. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent of plans due to climate change issues, in particular, flooding preventions and land drainage/management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29789/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The 2024 National Adaptation Framework (NAF), which was approved and published by Government on 5 June 2024, sets out Ireland's climate adaptation policy. The new NAF was completed following my Department's 2022 review of the previous NAF and a statutory public consultation undertaken earlier this year.

The new NAF, developed with input from key sectors, the Climate Change Advisory Council and the Environmental Protection Agency, integrates new policy developments since 2018, including work at Local Authority level; through existing Sectoral Adaptation Plans (SAPs); and new climate research. It outlines a whole-of-Government and society approach to climate adaptation in Ireland. Through sectors in relevant Departments, it aims to improve the enabling environment for mainstreaming adaptation action.

Under the new NAF, 13 key sectors, including Flood Risk Management and Agriculture which have particular relevance to flood risk and land drainage/management, will develop new SAPs by Q3 2025. In addition, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will undertake a scoping exercise examining the potential for a Built Environment and Planning SAP.

According to the CCAC’s 2023 Climate Change Adaptation Scorecard report, the Agriculture, Forestry and Seafood sector was rated as moderate overall, with good progress observed in mainstreaming adaptation into new policies, planning and financing frameworks. The Flood Risk Management sector was rated as good overall, with the Office of Public Works found to have strong internal structures in place to coordinate the planning, implementation and monitoring of its SAP.