Kildare councillor speaks of potential for communities to ‘reimagine and transform’ themselves by moving away from fossil fuels

Irish communities have the potential to 'reimagine and transform; themselves after the ending of commercial peat production and peat-fired power generation.

Fianna Fáil councillor Robert Power made the comments at the launch today of the Programme for the EU Just Transition Fund, which will be managed by the EMRA.

Cllr Power, who is also the Cathaoirleach of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA), said: "This new EU fund is an essential tool to realise the great potential for the wider Midlands area.

"This is a pivotal time in our economy: the EU Just Transition Fund is the lever which will help the regions most impacted by climate adaptation to action the generational change needed to become a sustainable, climate-neutral economy by 2050."

He added: "The Fund demonstrates just how valuable EU funding is to the implementation of local and regional economic and spatial planning strategies that support an inclusive and sustainable transition for the benefit of local communities."

The aim of the new EU Just Transition Fund (JTF), worth up to €169 million, is to support economic development in regions most negatively affected by the ending of commercial peat extraction and peat-based energy production as part of Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon economy. 

The Programme was launched on Friday, April 28 last, by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Minister Eamon Ryan at the Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre in Kenagh, County Longford.

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Longford is one of several counties including Offaly, Laois, Westmeath, Roscommon, and parts of Galway, Kildare and Tipperary, which form the EU JTF Territory.

Also in attendance on the day were Sofia Alves, Director at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG Regio), Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for EU affairs, Peter Burke TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Pippa Hackett TD, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with special responsibility for heritage and electoral reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, and Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with special responsibility for disability, Anne Rabbitte TD.

According to those behind the fund, The EU JTF 'will aid in facilitating projects and initiatives which help address the adverse social, economic and environmental effects of the climate transition for regions previously reliant on fossil fuels.'

It also sets out Ireland’s investment strategy for the funding, with up to €84.5 million financed by the EU matched by up to €84.5 million from the Government of Ireland.

The plans and targets are in accordance with the Government’s National Climate Action Plan and the European Green Deal. 

The EMRA was appointed as Managing Authority of the Fund in December 2021. 

PRIORITIES

The Programme will focus on three strategic priorities for investment.

These are: 

• Generating employment by investing in the diversification of the local economy
• Supporting the restoration and rehabilitation of degraded peatlands and regeneration and repurposing of industrial heritage assets
• Providing smart and sustainable mobility options to enable local communities to benefit directly from the green transition.
• Between now and 2027, a range of initiatives will be supported and a number of funding calls will be run for different types of organisations.

Beneficiaries of the fund will include micro-enterprises, SMEs, research institutions, local authorities, and community organisations. First funding calls will be launched soon with others to follow in the near future.

Delivery bodies who will help implement the funding will include: the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Transport with the National Transport Authority and Zero Electric Vehicles Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, National Parks & Wildlife Service, and Pobal. 

Commenting, EMRA Director Jim Conway said: "The community of the JTF Territoryshares these challenges with others across the EU. Europe has recognised this and addressed it through the EU Just Transition Fund. 

"The appointment of EMRA as Managing Authority of the EU JTF in December 2021 recognised the importance of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies made by the Assembly members in 2019.

He added: "The pillars of Climate Action, Healthy Placemaking, and Economic Opportunities reflect the provisions of the National Planning Framework and when incorporated within Local Authority County and City Development Plans, provide an alignment from UN through the Sustainable Development Goals to EU, national, regional and local scales.

Mr Conway, on behalf of the EMRA, also thanked the Office of Public Works, which manages the Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre for hosting today’s launch of the EU JTF by Minister Ryan.

Sofia Alves, EU Director General Regional, Cohension and Urban Policy, also said: "The Just Transition Fund is a key driver of the European Green Deal, which pushes the green transition towards more inclusive and innovative accomplishments.

"We are moving away from peat and other fossil fuels in the Midlands because people once dependent on them deserve a reshaped future with new prospects. A total of 169 million euros will kick-start this process through local initiatives."