Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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647. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason Ballivor, County Meath is excluded from the midlands engagement process and the first call for proposals under the €11 million just transition fund that ended on 1 June 2020, in view of the relation of the town and hinterland with Bord na Móna (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13563/20]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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648. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if County Meath will be included as part of the target group for the midlands engagement process; if it can retrospectively apply to be involved in the first call for proposals under the €11 million just transition fund despite the deadline for initial project proposal having passed on 12 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13564/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 647 and 648 together.647  and 648 together.

I am informed by Bord na Móna that a number of company employees based at the Ballivor operation in County Westmeath are based in County Meath, and are involved in bog operations in both Counties Meath and Westmeath, principally to supply Bord na Móna’s horticulture business.

In light of Bord na Móna's decision to suspend peat harvesting activities for 2020, while its substitute consent application is under consideration by an Bord Pleanala and to put in place an enhanced peatlands rehabilitation scheme as a key component of the company's move away from peat harvesting, these employees are currently engaged in ancillary activities associated with milled peat that has already been harvested, including consolidating existing and newly harvested stockpiles, covering/protecting stockpiles and maintenance of equipment.  

The 2020 call for proposals from my Department’s Just Transition Fund is open to suitable projects from East Galway, Kildare, Laois, Longford, North Tipperary, Offaly, Roscommon and Westmeath. This is in line with the approach set out in the first progress report of the Just Transition Commissioner, Mr Kieran Mulvey.

The first stage in this call for proposals launched on 22 May with an invitation for organisations to register details of potential projects with the START engagement process through the Midlands Regional Transition Team. This stage concluded on 12 June. The second stage, inviting funding proposals to be submitted to my Department, opened on 19 June.

As the Bord na Móna Ballivor operations includes County Westmeath, I am satisfied that Ballivor is covered by the scope of the 2020 call for proposals from the Just Transition Fund.

Interested parties, that meet the criteria set out in the call Information Booklet published on , may submit applications not later than 4pm on Friday 17 July. Any questions concerning eligibility of projects may be directed in advance of this deadline to my Department at JTF@dccae.gov.ie.