Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 May 2024
37. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware that community groups have been told they must pay for works granted under the Climate Action Fund and will only then be reimbursed through the fund. [24262/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Climate Action Programme (CCAP) aims to support and empower communities, in partnership with their Local Authority, to shape and build low carbon, sustainable communities in a coherent way to contribute to national climate and energy targets. The CCAP aims to support small and large, rural and urban communities to take climate action and supports direct engagement with communities to this end.
The majority of the projects approved for funding under the Climate Action Fund are paid on the basis of vouched expenditure.
Given that the groups submitting projects under the community climate action programme (CCAP) strand 1/1a and strand 2 are not-for-profit, sanction was sought and received from the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, in August 2023, to allow for a small amount of pre-funding (up to 25%) on a demonstrated needs basis for individual projects.
Each Local Authority has received a specific allocation to deliver the projects under the CCAP. Local Authorities have the discretion to choose not to apply for this pre-funding allowance. Local Authorities can work solely on a vouched expenditure basis in the drawing down of their funds from the Climate Action Fund. This is in line with the Grant Circular 13/2014.
