Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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327. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if Ireland will miss the 25 June 2025 deadline for submitting our social climate plan; if late submission puts us at risk of infringement proceedings and lessen Ireland’s ability to draw down from the EU’s social climate fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24191/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I would refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No 8 of Wednesday, 30 April 2025.

As set out in that reply, my Department is now preparing a draft Social Climate Plan in consultation with relevant Departmental stakeholders and with the European Commission. In line with the steps and timelines set out in the Regulation, and with European Commission guidance provided to the Member States on the preparation of Social Climate Plans, it is intended to shortly undertake a public and stakeholder consultation to inform the further development of the Plan. It is planned to submit the draft Plan to the Commission for formal approval in the second half of 2025.

According to written guidance issued by the EU Commission, if the Social Climate Plan is submitted after the June 2025 deadline, no automatic de-commitment of annual allocations are foreseen. A late submission will not put Ireland at risk of infringement proceedings, nor will it lessen Ireland’s ability to draw down its full allocation from the EU’s Social Climate Fund.