Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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68. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of funding provided for the just transition fund; the amount spent to date; the progress to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14328/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Just Transition Fund is a key pillar of the Government's just transition plan for the midlands. Up to €11 million will be available in 2020 for projects focusing on retraining workers and proposals to generate sustainable employment in green enterprise in the region, and supporting communities to transition to a low carbon economy. This is financed through an Exchequer allocation of €6m from carbon tax revenues and an additional €5 million committed by ESB. I am informed by the secretariat to the Midlands Regional Transition Team (MRTT) that over 150 projects were received via Stage 1 - the MRTT - START engagement process.  This stage closed on Friday, 12 June.  Projects that have registered at the first stage may now proceed to submit an application for funding to my Department, subject to meeting eligibility requirements and terms and conditions for funding published by my Department on Friday, 19 June.  Projects have until Friday, 17 July to submit proposals for funding. Evaluation of submitted proposals will commence shortly afterwards and initial disbursement of funding to successful projects will take place following the conclusion of this process. 

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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69. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of funding provided for the peatlands rehabilitation scheme; the amount spent to date; if his Department has created the targeted number of 70 jobs in year one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14329/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Bord na Móna announced, on 16 June, their intention to suspend peat harvesting activities for 2020 while its substitute consent application is under consideration by an Bord Pleanála, and to put in place an enhanced peatlands rehabilitation scheme as a key component of Bord na Móna’s move away from peat. The Government is committed to supporting Bord na Móna to deliver an extensive programme of rehabilitation of the company’s land bank. My Department and Bord na Móna are progressing the necessary measures to facilitate the advanced rehabilitation of 33,000 hectares of Bord na Móna bog previously harvested for peat used in electricity generation, commencing this year.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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71. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if it is his policy to completely phase out the extraction of peat over the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14438/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The section in the Programme for Government titled ‘The Exit from Peat in the Midlands’ commits to ensuring that the transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable economy is fair. The transition out of peat in the Midlands is the first test of the just transition. The Government will ensure that the Just Transition in the Midlands works inclusively and that it is an example of how large communities can introduce major changes in their daily lives and workplaces and still prosper. As part of this work, my Department will support the Just Transition Commissioner in designing a comprehensive and inclusive response, publish and implement a detailed all-of-government implementation plan consistent with the recommendations of the first report of the Just Transition Commissioner and conduct a feasibility study into the establishment of a Green Energy/Renewable Energy Hub in the Midlands, using the existing infrastructure in this region.

In conjunction with this, Government will undertake a national land use review, including farmland, forests, and peatlands, so that optimal land use options inform all relevant government decisions. The review will balance environmental, social, and economic considerations and involve a process of evaluation of the ecological characteristics of the land. It will include consideration of emissions to air and water, carbon sequestration, and climate adaptation challenges. Policy co-benefits, such as rewetting or forest regrowth to mitigate flooding risks in river catchments, will be considered. All stakeholders will be consulted.