Ireland’s Social Climate Plan: Public Consultation
The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) is currently developing a national Social Climate Plan which will set out measures to be financed from the EU Social Climate Fund over the period 2026 to 2032.
We are writing to you to draw your attention to a public consultation to inform the development of this Plan. The consultation was launched by Minister Darragh O’Brien on 11 September that will conclude on 23 October.
The EU Social Climate Fund is the first EU fund developed with the explicit purpose of alleviating potential energy and transport poverty occurring from the transition towards clean mobility and a decarbonised built environment. The focus of Ireland’s Plan will be investment in long-lasting, socially fair measures aimed at supporting those who may be most vulnerable to energy and transport poverty arising from the rise in the price of carbon and consequent rise in fossil fuel prices.
DCEE is working closely with relevant Departmental stakeholders and with the European Commission to ensure that the Plan developed will meet the requirements of the governing Regulation. We are committed to developing robust and high-quality measures, guided by meaningful stakeholder input, to ensure that the funds are appropriately targeted to those most vulnerable. In this context, two consultation processes at key points in the development of the Plan are planned.
The first of those is the following open public and stakeholder consultation which is designed to capture information on what the public and stakeholders see as the priorities for investment under this Plan. The second consultation, being planned for November, will be a public event, with European Commission officials present.
Commenting on the consultation, Minister O’Brien said:
“Over the longer-term, we will have a much more sustainable, secure and efficient transport and heating system, but in the here and now, I recognise that the transition can be difficult for people and that it impacts people unevenly. We have a fantastic opportunity now, with the support of this significant EU co-financing, to develop measures that will have a lasting impact on the wellbeing and comfort of those most vulnerable to energy and transport poverty while also having decarbonisation co-benefits.
While this is an open consultation, I particularly encourage all those impacted by energy and transport poverty, and the groups that represent them, to participate in this consultation.”
It is in this context that we invite you, and your network of contacts and stakeholders, to participate in this consultation found on the Departmental website at the following link:
The closing date for submissions is the 23rd October 2025.
