Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 September 2026
216. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department’s allocation in Budget 2027 will make provision for the estimated €220 million in national contributions to match the €663 million in funding under the EU Social Climate Fund which has been available to draw down since 2026; and the subheading, programme and vote this allocation will fall under. [68683/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra218. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 222 of 21 October 2025, whether his Department’s allocation in Budget 2026 made provision for the estimated €220 million in national contributions to match the €663 million in funding under the EU Social Climate Fund; and the subheading, programme and vote this allocation fell under in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2026. [68681/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 218 together.
My Department continues to oversee the development of Ireland's Social Climate Plan in close consultation with the European Commission and relevant Departmental stakeholders.
The completion of Ireland's Social Climate Plan is dependent upon agreement with the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation on the funding arrangements for the Plan, as well as the approval by the EU Commission of Ireland's draft Plan. A new timeline for submission of the Plan is being agreed with the Commission. To facilitate this level of engagement, the Plan will be submitted to the Commission, for assessment and approval, in the near future.
The schedule for the drawdown of funding from the Social Climate Fund will be included in the final submission of the Social Climate Plan. Payments from the Fund will be conditional on the achievement of milestones and targets agreed upon with the Commission in the final Plan.
The estimated €220 million in national contributions to match the €663 million in funding is to be allocated over the seven years of the Plan. As the Plan has yet to be agreed with the EU Commission, no allocation has yet been made in Budget 2027.
As of 22 September 2026, the Social Climate Plans of five Member States have been approved by the Commission (Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Sweden).
