Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan is to write to his Cabinet colleagues to inform them that their departments must implement the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate 2023 which aims to ensure public sector bodies lead in reducing Ireland's greenhouse gas emisisons.
The measures, which were passed by Cabinet today, include phasing out of the use of parking in buildings - where there is access to good transport services or there are mobility sharing options for the majority of staff or visitors.
However, parking will be maintained for people with physical mobility issues or staff who may work shifts or out of hours.
A departmental spokesperson said there are no hard criteria on how each department should decide on the rules, or a hard date by which the measures must be implemented, but added it will be decided by "green teams" in each department who are responsible for complying with the overall Climate Action Plan.
The mandate applies to all public sector bodies with the exception of local authorities, commercial semi-state bodies and the school sector.
Among the other designated tasks will be to end the use of disposable cups, plates and cutlery from public sector canteens, or closed facilities, except for those in clinical or health settings such as a public coffee-shop in a hospital.
Relevant public sector bodies will be obliged to promote the use of push and electric bikes as well as the buying or leasing only zero-emission vehicles.
The plan also envisages ending the installation of heating systems that use fossil fuels in new buildings, or renovation/retrofit projects, after 2023.
