Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The EU just transition fund is a newly established fund that comes under the 2021-27 programming round, under EU Regulation No. 1056 of 2021, within the framework for EU cohesion policy. The fund is to address adverse affects of climate transition by supporting the most affected territories and workers concerned and promote a balanced socio-economic condition.

Ireland will receive €84.5 million from EU just transition funds over that period up to 2027. That is the amount for this year. The Government will complement this funding with Exchequer resources. The governance and management of expenditure under this fund has to comply with just transition fund regulation from the EU and the EU's common provisions regulation.

The transition fund is Pillar 1 of the European Green Deal just transition mechanism and investments under the just transition fund may be complemented by a combination of grants and loans to private sector entities under a dedicated window of the EU's InvestEU instrument. Ireland has to prepare a territorial just transition plan and accompanying operational programme for approval for the EU to secure access to EU just transition funds.

This plan will set out Ireland's proposed investment priorities, as well as targeted sectors and regions. The Minister for the Environment has appointed the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, EMRA, as managing authority for the EU just transition fund and discharge procedure. EMRA will also develop the territorial just transition plan and operational programme. I can ask it to give the Deputy an update on where they are with regard to when it expects its application to go in and what funds it will have.