-       Chief Executives Report on Submissions

-       Draft Roscommon County Climate Action Plan 2024-2029

-       Appropriate Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening Reports

-       Chief Executive determination on the Appropriate Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening Reports

A report on the Draft Climate Action Plan was presented to the Members by Cllr. Naughten,  Chairperson of the Environment and Climate SPC:

·         Each local authority is required to prepare and approve a Climate Action Plan for their own functional area in consideration of wider national climate and energy targets, addressing both mitigation and adaptation measures.

·         The Climate Action Team and Climate Action Unit was established in Roscommon County Council in 2023. The Climate Action team comprises representatives from each department within the organization, meeting on a regular basis to discharge the processes required for the preparation of the Local Authority Climate Action Plan. On adoption of the plan, this focus will shift toward implementation of the Actions contained within.

·         The initiation of the plan-making process commenced with pre-draft consultation, and completed in the summer of 2023. This was process was widely publicised in mainstream and social media, inviting input from all sectors of society and supplemented with a series of events internally and externally to the Council, including engagement with community stakeholders, local and national agencies and organisations and in-house workshops. Preparation of actions commenced and were refined through engagement with the SPCs, LCDC, PPN and consultation with the CARO.

·         A Draft Climate Action Plan was prepared and subjected to further stakeholder engagement, including ongoing contact with the CARO and adjoining Local Authorities. This plan was agreed by the Planning, Environment Climate Change and Corporate Governance SPC at its meeting on 3^rd of October 2023 and approved at the October Plenary meeting to proceed to formal public consultation. The public consultation phase took place from 27^th October – 13^th December 2023.

·         Submissions received within this period were analysed and incorporated into the Chief Executive Report on Submissions, following engagement with the Planning, Environment, Climate Action and Corporate Governance SPC at a meeting on 15^th  January 2024.  

·         This report was subjected to strategic environmental and appropriate assessment screening and it has been determined that the modifications proposed are minor in nature and will not have significant environmental effects. On this basis, the documentation now submitted for the consideration of the Elected Members represents the culmination of the plan-making process.

This includes:

·         Chief Executive report on Submissions, incorporating detailed consideration of submissions and recommendations arising

·         The Draft Roscommon Climate Action Plan, 2024-2029 with modifications on foot of recommendations contained in the Chief Executive Report

·         Screening of recommended modifications for Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessment

·         Chief Executive determination on Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessment screening outcomes

 The report recommends the adoption of the plan by resolution subject to the proposed minor modifications. The County Roscommon Climate Action Plan, once adopted, will come into force from the time of adoption and will be published within 30 days, accompanied by the supporting Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments.

Climate Action Co-Ordinator Aoife Moore gave a presentation to the Elected Members on the Draft Plan:

·         She outlined the six documents including the Chief Executive’s Report, screening determinations, strategic environmental and appropriate assessment screenings as well as amendments to the draft document.

·         Adaption and mitigation features are a key part of the plan, focusing on full accountability, influence, advocacy, co-ordination and facilitation.

·         The plan contains five key actions – governance and leadership, the built environment, transport, communities’ resilience as well as transition and sustainable resource management.

·         During the consultation period, eighteen submissions were received with proposed amendments screened for impacts.

·         Amendments to particular actions were noted in the draft report which referenced the role of sporting organisations, prioritising projects that can demonstrate Climate Action involvement.

·         Also referenced was the support of the Circular Economy as well as the importance of geothermal potential in future studies.

·         Amendments to the document included references to include adjoining local authorities as partners on relevant actions

·         An amendment to NEGI 10 in respect of the Chief Executive’s report with reference to Glyphosate was also adopted.

·         The plan remains aligned to higher order Climate Action Plans.

·         The final version of the report will be published within 30 days of its adoption.

Director of Services Caitlín Conneely acknowledged the input of members of the Strategic Policy Committee. She said the submissions received made the document a richer document and recommended its adoption by members.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Naughten

SECONDED by Cllr. Leyden

It was AGREED Pursuant to the provisions of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 as it amends the principal Act of 2015, Roscommon County Council resolves to adopt the County Roscommon Climate Action Plan 2024-2029, having considered the draft plan, the contents of the Chief Executives report on submissions received during the period of consultation and the SEA and AA Reports and determinations, carried out in accordance with the requirements and regulatory provisions of the SEA Directive (DIR 2001/42/EC) and Article 6(3) of the EU Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC)