Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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953. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the specific measures taken in her departmental offices and operations in reducing energy usage and to assist in Ireland meeting our climate targets for 2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23314/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to achieving a 51% reduction in Ireland’s overall emissions from 2021 to 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050. The Public Sector Climate Action Mandate outlines that Departments and public bodies must lead by example in implementing climate-related goals. As part of the Mandate, my Department is required to publish our targets and achievements in our Climate Action Roadmap.

The purpose of our Climate Action Roadmap is to encourage strategic vision, coordination, organisation, mobilisation, and planning within our organisation, with a view to meeting our responsibilities under the Climate Action Mandate.  In implementing our strategy as a Department, we recognise the that the breadth and impact of our remit affords us the provides us opportunity to inform and positively influence people, most notably children and young people, with regard to climate action and to promote sustainability.  We also examine ways that we can further influence climate action objectives through the policy and budgetary decisions we take.

We also seek to promote climate action and sustainability as part of how we work as individuals and collectively as an organisation.  My Department's Green Team meets every quarter with staff representatives to discuss climate action and environmentally-sustainable activities which we can utilise in our offices and in our homes.  Green Team initiatives already underway include a Deposit Return Scheme collection point which allows staff to recycle their drink containers while donating the proceeds to six children's charities and a multi-stream system for waste collection at various points throughout our office, including recycling, compost, general waste and glass collection.  In addition, our Learning and Development team is also supporting efforts to raise awareness and promote behavioural changes by providing training on climate action objectives to our staff. 

Our internal Facilities Team works closely with the Office of Public Works in delivering improvements to the energy efficiency of our building and in reducing our emissions. In that regard, our Departmental headquarters in Miesian Plaza, Dublin 2 is a redeveloped LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum accredited building.

We are also examining our behaviours and activities in terms of travel and looking at further ways we can adapt to aid in climate action and environmental sustainability.  Initiatives in this area include the achievement of Cycle Friendly Employer accreditation from the European Cycling Federation and participation in the National Transport Authority's bi-annual step challenges, which encourage positive behavioural changes for staff towards using active travel methods.  We are also currently in the process of applying for the Smarter Travel Mark with the National Transport Authority, with a view to better supporting active and sustainable travel amongst our staff on their commute and beyond.