Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the midlands, I understand the Deputy's point on the just transition being designed to provide alternative employment for people in localities that have suffered as a result of the country endeavouring to reach its climate change targets and the closure of certain generating facilities and other activity as a consequence. There is a need to reinvest, particularly in the midlands. I do not have the specifics of the case - Deputy Barry Cowan has raised it also - of a person losing a contract for a good enterprise. Bord na Móna will have to bear in mind the overall objective of the just transition model which is designed to create new enterprises and support existing enterprises that can create new jobs. That is the core objective of the just transition agenda, particularly in the midlands.

Deputy McDonald asked why it is not stronger in the Bill. The transition to a low-carbon future will bring huge changes to society. It will create opportunities as well as challenges. Just transition is a core part of the programme for Government and our climate strategy agenda to provide alternative job opportunities to sectors and regions most effected, particularly protecting vulnerable groups. The Government will invest up to €108 million in the peatlands climate action scheme which will create over 300 jobs and will be delivered by Bord na Móna to rehabilitate 33,000 ha over 80 Bord na Móna bogs. The budget committed funding of just transition measures including €5 million for the rehabilitation and a further €6 million for the transition fund. Under the Bill, the requirement to have a just transition as one of the measures that will guide the Minister and the Government in preparation of the plans and the policies provided for in the Bill. It is in the annual climate action plans provided for that will set out the details. The Deputy should be under no doubt that the just transition is a key aspect in the preparation of the forthcoming climate action plan 2021. There is a range of other projects in the midlands for which funding has been provided particularly in economic, social and environmental sustainability of the wider midlands regions. Some 16 projects with total funding commitments of €1.2 million were approved last autumn and are up and running. Provisional approval for a further 47 projects with an indicative funding commitment of €27.8 million was announced in November. These are more complex, high value projects. The majority are expected to have grant agreements in place in coming weeks. The just transition commissioner continues with his current mandate and will produce a further report this year. The midlands retrofitting programme is on course to finish this year, meaning a minimum of 750 homes will have benefitted. Additional measures will follow on that. That midlands retrofitting pilot project was funded by carbon tax revenues. Under the midlands programme, work will continue under the newly revised energy efficiency programme and €45 million has been allocated to local authorities this year. Under that programme approximately 1,650 additional homes will be upgraded in 2021. We are desirous of accelerating the work in the midlands in particular as a demonstrative model of how we can allocate additional funding to replace employment lost and create new opportunities themselves.

On Deputy Boyd Barrett's point on the marine, biodiversity is critical. It is inextricably linked to the climate crisis. There is no rubber stamping involved in the marine spatial plan, quite the contrary, it provides a proper sustainable framework that will enhance the opportunities for biodiversity at sea. There is no one grabbing any licences under that plan. There will be legislation to come before the House -----

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