93. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 90 of 22 January 2025, to provide an update on proposals for a scheme of legal aid for environmental litigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53572/26]

Section 294(1)(a) of the Planning and Development Act 2024 provides for the costs to be awarded to an applicant in respect of proceedings to which the section applies and in which the applicant succeeds in obtaining relief. S.I. No. 200/2026, Planning and Development (Costs of Part 9 Judicial Review Proceedings) Regulations 2026, which was commenced on the 18 May 2026 details the costs to be awarded.

There are currently no plans to bring forward legislation to give effect to the environmental legal costs financial assistance mechanism referred to in the Question.