Westmeath and Roscommon proposed for major EU green economy transition fund

Westmeath and Roscommon are among eight areas (counties or part of counties) being proposed by the Government for for special European funding to assist the transition to a green economy.

The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communication, Eamon Ryan, has launched a public consultation on the Government's draft plan on how to invest funding from Europe to support a just transition in the wider Midlands region.

Up to €84.5 million has been allocated to Ireland under the EU Just Transition Fund over the period to 2027. The Government will complement this funding with Exchequer resources at a co-funding rate of between 30% to 50%.

The Government is required to submit a Territorial Just Transition Plan to the European Commission in advance of securing the funding.

The draft plan, in partnership with the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, sets out how Ireland proposes to invest funding from the EU Just Transition Fund – to support a just transition in the wider Midlands region.

The Just Transition Fund is designed to assist communities across Europe to meet the challenges of the green transition, in line with the objective of achieving EU climate neutrality by 2050 in an effective and fair manner – ensuring that nobody is left behind.

The wider Midlands region has been proposed as the territory for investment under the draft Territorial Just Transition Plan.

This region comprises East Galway, North Tipperary, Longford, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, West Kildare and Roscommon.

This public consultation is asking for stakeholders’ views on the transition process and the draft plan which, when finalised, will be submitted to the European Commission for approval. The consultation invites stakeholders to complete an online survey and to attend online workshops.

Two online workshops (January 18 and 25) will allow for in-depth discussions on priorities for the EU Just Transition Fund. A third online workshop, for young people in the region, is being organised with national youth representative organisations to ensure that people impacted have the opportunity to shape the plan. There will also be specific information sessions for Oireachtas members, as well as relevant local authorities and their members.

The EU Just Transition Fund will support the goals of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan and its objectives, in relation to providing a just transition in the wider Midlands region. This is in response to the ending of peat extraction for electricity generation.

The report highlights that the closure of the two peat-fired power stations in the Midlands contributed to a 7.9% reduction in power generation emissions in 2020. It also estimated that the exit from peat from power generation is expected to avoid at least 1.25 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

The analysis for the draft Territorial Just Transition Plan identified a number of proposed key development needs for the wider Midlands region, based on the scope of support from the EU Just Transition Fund:

These include modernising the business environment and creating employment opportunities; enhancing the skills profile; promoting environmental sustainability and industrial heritage and enhancing the potential of region as a place to live and work.

Commenting on the publication, Minister Ryan, said: “This Government is committed to a just transition for the Midlands region and has dedicated significant funding to support workers, companies and communities following the early closure, in 2020, of the peat-fired power stations and the ending of peat extraction to supply these power stations.

“I am pleased to launch this public consultation on our draft Territorial Just Transition Plan, which is a significant step in helping to deliver further significant funding to the region, with support from the EU Just Transition Fund. I look forward to hearing peoples’ views on the draft plan. This will inform the final plan, which we will submit to the European Commission.

“I am also pleased to announce that I have decided to appoint the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) as the Managing Authority to deliver this funding. The EMRA is the key statutory body representing the development needs of the region. It is extremely well placed, through its statutory functions and working in close cooperation with my Department and the other bodies administering EU funds in Ireland, to deliver EU just transition funding into the region.”

The consultation is open until February 14. The draft Territorial Just Transition Plan and consultation survey are available at gov.ie