Ms Oonagh Buckley:

The other key programme under climate leadership is the just transition programme, which has been set up to ensure the transition to a climate neutral economy happens in a fair way. In December 2022, the European Commission approved Ireland’s programme for the EU just transition fund, and that will see up to €191 million invested in the midlands region over the coming years both through my Department and other Departments involved in the programme.

As committee members can probably hear from my voice, I am currently suffering from a cold so if I have a coughing fit in the middle of this, I apologise in advance. I am not counting but this is only my ninth week in this job. I tend to try and answer every question and do a solo run on these things but, unusually for me, I will probably have to call on my colleagues a little bit more than I generally like to do for fear of misleading the committee, so I hope the Chairman and members will forgive me in advance.