No climate change information centre for Kildare

A dedicated climate change centre providing information to the public will not be provided.

Kildare County Council has turned down a request for a climate change “centre of excellence” in Newbridge.

Newbridge-based Fianna Fáil councillor Noel Heavey said the centre is needed to provide reliable and accurate information to the public.

In a protracted reply, KCC said the money is not available for the centre.

KCC official Marian Higgins said the council’s climate action team provides information countywide using libraries and libraries, engaging in collaborative projects, supporting communities directly with advice, building online tools, and nurturing mutual partnerships.

Ms Higgins said this is to “support and behavioural change and enable practical local climate action across the county.”

Ms Higgins said providing information is an important part of the strategy and “the approach taken is to support communities countywide and work directly with communities in their locality.”

She pointed out a dedicated official works with community groups on advice, project development, grant applications and events.

This is done with nearly €900,000 worth of funding.

Advice and information is also available via to individuals and communities as a result of the development of an online tool called GlasHouse Hub, on KCC’s website.

This portal provides information on retrofitting and supporting funding opportunities. The portal provided a step-by-step approach to home retrofitting, the approach undertaken is based on the SEAI model of Learn, Plan and Do.

Climate information and expertise are also currently available nationally and regionally through organisations including SEAI, the EPA's Climate Ireland platform, the Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs) and university research institutes, including the MaREI Centre at University College Cork, which developed the Climate Ireland information platform under the EPA Research Programme.