92. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the funding streams available for climate change adaptation or mitigation pilots in local authorities. [59621/26]

Local authorities are at the forefront of climate action in Ireland. A number of climate action work programmes are being funded by my Department which provide an opportunity for local authorities to deliver adaptation and mitigation pilots. This funding underpins the continued commitment of Government to local climate action and recognises the key role of local authorities in supporting communities as we transition to a climate neutral economy.

My Department provides €5.8m in annual funding to local authorities to develop and implement their Local Authority Climate Action Plans (LA CAPs). This funding provides two climate posts in each local authority, a Climate Action Coordinator and Climate Action Officer, to develop and implement the plans. Collectively there are almost 4,000 actions across all the plans, which includes actions to deliver adaptation and mitigation pilots.

€2m in annual funding is provided to the four Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs) who are responsible for supporting local authorities to deliver climate action and to implement their LA CAPs. The CARO annual budget increased from €2m to €2.4m in 2026 to allow for increased project costs.

My Department works with Cork City and Dublin City on the EU Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, and Galway City on the EU Pilot Cities Programme. This Mission aims to make over 100 European cities climate neutral by 2030. In 2025, €740k was paid to Cork and Dublin as "Mission Cities” to fund adaptation projects, while €30k was paid to Galway to continue operating their Warm Home Hub pilot project. My Department is also developing a new Cities Mission Accelerator Fund of €2m to further support the "Mission" cities to deliver climate adaptation and mitigation projects or pilots.

My Department announced a new national DZ Demonstrator Fund of €1.8m in 2026 to assist local authorities in delivering DZ projects or pilots. In addition, a new €2.5m European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) DZ Scheme has been set up for local authorities in the Northern and Western region to deliver projects in their DZs, including pilot projects. My Department is committing €1m of this funding.

A call is underway under the EU Just Transition Fund: START (Supporting a Sustainable Transition through Climate Action for a Resilient Territory Scheme). Local authorities across the eight eligible counties of the Wider Midlands Region had the opportunity to apply for funding for capital projects or pilots, and feasibility studies outlined in their LA CAPs, with a total fund value of €30m. This scheme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Commission, with each providing 50%. Applications under this scheme are currently being assessed.