Environmental Policy

Tuesday, 28 April 2026

Questions (271)

Roderic O'Gorman

Question:

271. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an updated timeline on the hosting of a public event on the Social Climate Plan; whether his Department is considering publishing a summary of the submissions received on the Plan; the timeline for publication of the plan; whether in light of ongoing energy price pressures, if consideration is being given to fast-tracking the development and submission of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29593/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment

My Department is continuing to prepare Ireland's Social Climate Plan in close consultation with the European Commission and relevant Departmental stakeholders.

In line with the requirements of the Regulation, a public event on the draft Plan, co-hosted by my Department and the European Commission, will be held later this year. At this event, information will be shared on the contents of the draft Plan as well as detail on how the consultation process completed last year fed into the design of the draft. This draft will include a summary of submissions received on the Plan. Following the event, a final draft Plan will be submitted to Government for approval. It will then be submitted to the European Commission for final approval.

To facilitate this level of engagement, the Plan will be submitted to the Commission, for approval, in the second half of this year. The Plan will begin operation in 2027 after it has been submitted and approved by the European Commission.