Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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31. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of applications made to the Just Transition Fund to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16073/20]

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, 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 155 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 this 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.