Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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253. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the final social climate plan will contain adequately funded and targeted and long-term structural supports to address the impacts of the second emissions trading system on households facing rising fuel and energy costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17424/25]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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254. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he plans to initiate a robust public consultation on the development of Ireland’s social climate plan; if he will guarantee that this consultation is held in good time to allow for meaningful and inclusive public input ahead of the 30 June 2025 deadline for submission to the European Commission; if the consultation will be accompanied by an environmental impact assessment, plain language summaries, multilingual materials and accessible formats to ensure wide-ranging public and stakeholder participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17425/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together.

Regulation (EU) 2023/955 on the establishment of a Social Climate Fund (SCF) requires that all EU Member States prepare a Social Climate Plan setting out the programmes for the period 2026-2032 aimed at addressing the social and distributional effects of fossil fuel price increases.

My Department is now preparing a draft Social Climate Plan in consultation with relevant Departmental stakeholders and with the European Commission. A variety of targeted measures that can provide lasting solutions and effectively help combat energy poverty are being examined for inclusion in the Plan. Such measures may include building renovations, access to energy from renewable sources, and the active promotion of renewable energy sources through information and awareness-raising measures targeted at households.

As part of its preparation of the Plan, my Department is also giving consideration to obligations under relevant EU Directives, including the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive, which require that certain plans and programmes which are likely to have a significant impact on the environment may require a Strategic Environmental Assessment to be prepared.

It is my intention that the draft plan will be subject to public consultation, including with relevant stakeholders, prior to its submission to the European Commission for approval. Further information on this consultation will be made available to stakeholders in due course.