Catherine Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

11. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the body/authority that made the decision regarding the geographical areas/municipal districts within counties in relation to just transition funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57454/25]

Catherine Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

14. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there will be an opportunity to make submissions to change the geographical areas/municipal districts that will be eligible under the next round of just transition funding; if he will outline that procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57457/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 14 together.

The EU Just Transition Fund (EU JTF) aims to address the economic, social and environmental impacts that come with the shift away from carbon-intense activities. In Ireland, the EU JTF is focused on the wider Midlands region which has been impacted by the move away from peat extraction and electricity generation from peat.

Ireland’s EU JTF Programme represents a total commitment of €169m to the just transition process in the designated territory, as approved by the European Commission, incorporating €84.5 million of funding from the EU JTF for 2021 – 2027 and national co-financing. Funding will be available until 2027, in line with the EU Multi-Annual Financial Framework for 2021 to 2027.

The EU JTF designated territory comprises counties Laois, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath, and municipal districts of Ballinasloe (Co. Galway), Athy and Clane-Maynooth (Co. Kildare), and Carrick-on-Suir and Thurles (Co. Tipperary).

This territorial designation was informed by a county-level analysis through the Structural Reform Support Programme of the European Commission, the recommendations of the Just Transition Commissioner, coverage of the National Just Transition Fund, and a sub-county analysis commissioned by Government. These findings were compiled into a Territorial Just Transition Plan jointly developed by my Department and the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly as Managing Authority for the Fund.

The Territorial Just Transition Plan and EU JTF Programme were approved by the Government on 29 November 2022, and subsequently adopted by the European Commission, establishing the designated territory for the programming period which ends in 2027. There are no plans to revise the territory for the remainder of the Programme.

The National Just Transition Fund was active between 2020-2024 and supported 56 local projects. Over €16 million was disbursed to participating projects. The National Fund closed in December 2024. The operation of the fund was designed to align with the Government’s policy on just transition as set out in Climate Action Plans, and with the investment objectives of Project Ireland 2040 and the National Development Plan. The Fund also reflected recommendations in the Just Transition Commissioner’s First Interim Report to Government, the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy, and the Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan to 2020.

Catherine Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

12. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to outline just transition funding to date, by municipal district, each year since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57455/25]

Catherine Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

13. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when the next just transition funding applications will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57456/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The EU Just Transition Fund (EU JFT) aims to address the economic, social and environmental impacts that come with the shift away from carbon-intense activities. In Ireland, the EU JTF is focused on the wider Midlands region which has been impacted by the move away from peat extraction and electricity generation from peat.

As at October 2025, 15 calls for funding have been launched, with a total of 112 projects under grant agreement across schemes under the EU JTF Programme. These include the Fáilte Ireland Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, the Pobal Local and Regional Economic Strategies Support Scheme, the Department of Agriculture, Farming and the Marine (DAFM) Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Tóchar Wetlands Restoration Project and the National Transport Authority (NTA) Bus Operator Aid Schemes.

The operation of the fund is kept under continuous review. Information on any future funding opportunities will be made available on the EMRA website at the following location: www.emra.ie/eu-jtf/eu-jtf-open-calls/.

The National Just Transition Fund was active between 2020-2024 and supported 56 local projects. Over €16 million was disbursed to participating projects. The National Fund closed in December 2024.