Offaly Local Authority will publish its adopted individual Local Authority Climate Action Plan (LA CAP) as directed by the Minister before March 2024. Offaly County Council has now published its Draft Local Authority Climate Action Plan for the period 2024 – 2029 (LACAP) and is accepting submissions from stakeholders and the general public until 4.00pm Wednesday the 6th of December 2023.

Offaly Local Authority’s Climate Action Plan will translate national climate policy to local circumstances and Offaly County Council will be responsible for reducing direct greenhouse gas emissions from across our own assets and infrastructure in line with national targets, whilst also taking on a broader role of influencing and facilitating other sectors to meet their own targets through a range of actions under six different themes.  The LA CAP will be ambitious, focused, evidence based, participative and transparent.

 The LACAP has been developed from the following studies: 

• Climate Risk Assessment for the County Offaly
• A Baseline Emissions Inventory for the County Offaly
• Offaly County Council Decarbonisation Zone Report 2023.
• Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report
• Appropriate Assessment Natura Impact Report

Climate actions have been developed for the draft Climate Action Plan under six main themes:

• Governance and Leadership
• Built Environment
• Transport
• Natural Environment and Green Infrastructure
• Community Resilience and Transition
• Sustainability and Resource Management  

Draft Climate Action Plan 2024-2029 and Public Notice

Offaly County Council has published its Draft Local Authority Climate Action Plan for the period 2024 – 2029 (LACAP) and is accepting submissions from stakeholders and the general public until 4.00pm Wednesday the 6th of December 2023.

Offaly County Councils Draft Climate Action Plan 2024-2029 is now available to view and for Public Consultation.

1. Click here to view Offaly County Councils Draft Climate Action Plan 2024-2029.
2. Click here to view the Irish Version of Offaly County Councils Draft Climate Action Plan 2024-2029.
3. Click here to view the Public Notice for Offaly County Councils Draft Climate Action Plan 2024-2029.
4. Click here to view the Irish Version of the Public Notice for Offaly County Councils draft Climate Action Plan 2024 – 2029.

Supporting Documents

The Draft LACAP is supported by the following supplementary documents (Click on the links to view)

1. Offaly Climate Change Risk Assessment 2023
2. Offaly Baseline Emissions Inventory 2023
3. Offaly County Council Decarbonisation Zone Report 2023
4. Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report
5. Appropriate Assessment Natura Impact Report

A copy of all the above documents may be inspected during public opening hours until 4.00pm Wednesday the 6th of December 2023 at the following locations:

Online at https://www.offaly.ie/climate-change-action-plan-consultation/

• Áras An Chontae, Charleville Road, Tullamore, Co Offaly, R35 F893., Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) between the hours of 9:30 to 16:00.
• Tullamore Municipal District, Acres Hall, Cormac St, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, R35 WV59.
• Birr Municipal District, Birr Civic Offices, Wilmer Rd, Townspark, Birr, Co. Offaly R42 X271
• Edenderry Municipal District, Town Hall, Edenderry, R45 K766.

Available from Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) between the hours of 9:30 to 16:00.

At the following Council Libraries during normal opening hours, during the consultation period:

• Tullamore Library
• Birr Library
• Edenderry Library

Public Information Drop-in Events

Council staff will be available to provide guidance on the Draft LACAP and on the consultation process and you are welcome to come along to:

If you have any queries about the Draft LACAP or the consultation process, please don’t hesitate to contact the Climate Action Office by email at 
climate@offalycoco.ie or by phone 057 93 46800.

Have Your Say – Make a Submission

1. Click here to make a submission using a template in English.
2. Click here to make a submission using a template in Irish.
3. Click here to upload your pre-prepared submission in English.
4. Click here to upload you pre-prepared submission in Irish.

Submissions or observations with respect to the Draft LACAP should be made:

• Via the Online Form: by clicking on the relevant Make a Submission link above.
• In writing to: John McNally, Climate Action Coordinator, Climate Action, Environment and Rural Water, Áras An Chontae, Charleville Road, Tullamore, Co Offaly, R35 F893.

Submissions or observations must be made in writing no later than 4.00pm Wednesday the 6th of December 2023. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Data Protection

Please consider the following in making your submission:

1. Submissions should be in ONE medium only i.e., online or in hard copy.
2. Submissions or observations should include your name and address and, where relevant, details of any organisation, community group or company etc. you represent.
3. Children, or groups or associations representing the interests of children, are particularly encouraged to make submissions or observations.
4. Written submissions or observations with respect to the Draft LACAP, made within the period stated, will be taken into consideration before the making of the LACAP.
5. Please be advised that all submissions received may be published online as part of the plan-making process and will be set out in a Chief Executive’s Report that will also be published.
6. Please ensure that no vexatious, libellous or confidential information, including confidential information relating to a third party (in respect of which the third party has not, expressly, or impliedly in the circumstances, consented to its disclosure) is included. Offaly Local Authority reserves the right to redact any submission or part thereof that does not comply with this requirement.
7. Offaly County Council is subject to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act, 2014, the Data Protection Acts 1988-2018 and to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).  All responses will be stored in compliance with GDPR. Offaly County Council’s GDPR policy and Privacy Statement is available on our website.

Please click Council’s Data Protection Policy for more info.