Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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214. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of lost jobs that have been replaced and the number of new jobs created through the Just Transition Commission in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [29391/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Just Transition Commissioner was appointed by the Government in November 2019 with the mandate to engage with those affected by the accelerated exit from peat for electricity generation in the Midlands region and to recommend to Government the essential elements of a just transition for those workers and communities.The Commissioner has prepared four progress reports, all of which are available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/e0e7e-climate-action-plan-to-tackle-climate-breakdown-just-transition/. The Government has responded to the Commissioner’s recommendations through the Midlands Implementation Plan, published as part of the Government’s Climate Action Plan 2021.

The National Just Transition Fund, launched in 2020, is supporting projects across the wider Midlands region that will have significant employment and enterprise potential and will support the transition of the region towards a low carbon economy. A total of €20.5 million has been committed in funding by my Department to 55 projects in the region. It is estimated by the projects that this will lead to the creation of 154 direct jobs, as well as 932 indirect jobs throughout the region. A full list of all projects supported under the Just Transition Fund can be viewed at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/ed10d-just-transition-fund/.

In addition to the National Just Transition Fund, the Government has also committed to invest up to €108 million to the Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme, which will create over 300 jobs and will be delivered by Bord na Móna to rehabilitate 33,000 hectares over 80 Bord na Móna bogs.