Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2025
209. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department's allocation in Budget 2026 makes provision for the estimated €220m in national contributions to match the €663m in funding under the EU Social Climate Fund which can be drawn down from 2026; which vote this allocation will fall under; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56564/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra210. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment when the public event planned as part of the Social Climate Plan (SCP) national consultation will take place; when the draft SCP will be published; the provision that will be made for those wishing to join online; how he intends to engage with anti-poverty and civil society organisations throughout the development of the SCP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56592/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra213. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if Budget 2026 makes provision for Ireland’s required national co-financing contribution (estimated at approximately €220 million) to match the €663 million in EU funding available to Ireland under the Social Climate Fund from 2026; under which Vote or Departmental subhead this national contribution will be allocated; if he will report on the way in which this funding will support the implementation of Ireland’s Social Climate Plan and measures targeting vulnerable households and transport users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56751/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra214. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the way in which his Department intends to ensure that national co-financing for the EU Social Climate Fund is directed towards new or scaled-up measures targeting energy poverty, building renovation, and clean mobility for low-income households and vulnerable transport users, in line with the Social Climate Fund Regulation; and if he will outline how duplication or double-funding with existing schemes such as the Climate Action Fund and SEAI programmes will be avoided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56752/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra217. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if Budget 2026 makes provision for Ireland’s required national co-financing contribution (estimated at approximately €220 million) to match the €663 million in EU funding available to Ireland under the Social Climate Fund from 2026; if he will confirm under which vote or Departmental subhead this national contribution will be allocated; the way in which this funding will support the implementation of Ireland’s Social Climate Plan and measures targeting vulnerable households and transport users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56813/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra218. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the way in which his Department plans to ensure that national co-financing for the EU Social Climate Fund is directed towards new or scaled-up measures targeting energy poverty, building renovation, and clean mobility for low-income households and vulnerable transport users, in line with the Social Climate Fund Regulation; the way in which duplication or double-funding with existing schemes such as the Climate Action Fund and SEAI programmes will be avoided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56814/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra222. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department's allocation in Budget 2026 makes provision for the estimated €220 million in national contributions to match the €663 million in funding under the EU Social Climate Fund which can be drawn down from 2026; which vote/ departmental subheading this allocation will fall under; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57223/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra223. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment when Ireland's draft Social Climate Plan (SCP) will be published; and how he intends to engage with anti-poverty and civil society organisations throughout the development of the SCP. [57224/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra224. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the efforts his Department is taking to ensure that Ireland's Social Climate Plan will target vulnerable households explicitly; the research and data sets will be used to inform the definition of vulnerability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57225/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra228. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he plans to match fund for the full allocation of the Social Climate Fund. [57357/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 209, 210, 213, 214, 217, 218, 222, 223, 224 and 228 together.
My Department continues to oversee the preparation of Irelands draft national Social Climate Plan in consultation with relevant Departmental stakeholders and with the European Commission. On 11 September 2025, I launched a six-week open and public stakeholder consultation to inform the development of the plan. In addition to promoting the consultation on Gov.ie and on our social media outlets, over 200 relevant stakeholders, including those representing groups potentially at risk of energy and transport poverty, were directly contacted through Departmental stakeholder networks to advise them that the consultation was underway and to encourage participation. As the closing date approaches, a reminder issued to stakeholders last week.
An Inter-Departmental working group has convened to support the development of the plan. In developing the plan, the remit of the working group includes consideration of proposed measures and supporting data to help ensure appropriate targeting of measures to appropriate vulnerable groups, and to ensure that any measures under consideration are aligned with the governing Regulation. The inputs received from the public and stakeholder consultation will be considered by the group to further develop and refine proposed measures to incorporate into the draft plan.
A public event, hosted by my Department, with attendance by European Commission officials, is being planned. The date and format for this event will be finalised following the conclusion of the public consultation and with agreement of the European Commission. To ensure that the event is accessible to all interested stakeholders, both in-person and online attendance will be facilitated.
At this public event, a draft plan will be presented along with information on outcomes from the consultation and elaboration on how stakeholder input is reflected in the draft plan. Attendees will have the opportunity to provide further insights at this event for consideration in the final draft plan. This final draft plan will be submitted to Government for approval in advance of its submission to the European Commission for its final approval before the end of this year.
Policy responsibility for measures in the Social Climate Plan could potentially span a number of Government Departments. As per normal practice, allocations at subhead level will be finalised and published later this year in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2026.
