Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 November 2025
136. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach to estimate the total cost of the attendance of the Irish delegation at the "COP 30" conference in Brazil; and to state the estimated carbon footprint or carbon cost of the Irish delegation attending the conference. [65591/25]
View answer137. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach to state the total cost of the attendance of the Irish delegation for the COP conference in each year in 2022, 2023 and 2024; and to state the estimated carbon footprint or carbon cost of the Irish delegation attending the conference each year in 2022, 2023 and 2024. [65594/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together.
Detailed information on the costs of foreign travel, including attendance at the annual COP conference, for Office Holders attached to the Department of the Taoiseach and their accompanying delegations is published on a monthly basis on the website of the Department of the Taoiseach at this [link].
Expenditure details are published once invoices are received and processed for payment. The Department seeks at all times to ensure best value for money is sought in respect of each official trip undertaken, consistent with the requirements of official business.
Circular 01/2020 requires all Government Departments, Offices and Agencies to record, monitor and value the carbon emissions associated with official air travel.
In line with Circular 01/2020, the Department is required to make annual payments to the statutory Climate Action Fund in the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment to offset carbon emissions that result from official travel undertaken by staff of the Department of the Taoiseach.
The below table outlines the total annual payment made to the statutory Climate Action Fund in the years 2020 – 2025. As the annual payment is made each February in respect of the previous year, details on the payment relating to official air travel undertaken in 2025 will not be available until end February 2026.
|
- |
|
|
Year |
Total Annual Payment |
|
2020 |
N/A |
|
2021 |
€818 |
|
2022 |
€1,623 |
|
2023 |
€7,478 |
|
2024 |
€7,034 |
|
2025 |
€8,758 |
