Ireland’s 50 years in the EU: Europe says just transition fund will aid Offaly’s shift from peat-based economy

THE EU Just Transition Fund aims to address the adverse effects of the climate transition by supporting the most affected territories and workers, and to promote a balanced socio-economic transition.

This supports those most impacted by the move away from fossil fuels, to leverage new economic opportunities presented by the move to an economic model based on net zero emissions.

In 2021, Ireland prepared a draft Territorial Just Transition Plan which set out the impacts on what the Government said was the ‘most negatively affected territory’ as Ireland moves away from fossil fuels, and identified development needs for the territory in order to address these negative impacts.

There will be investment in these areas – restoration and rehabilitation of Natura 2000 wetlands sites; decarbonisation of existing transport routes and fleets and the installation of fast-powered EV charging points in community centres; development of a centre of excellence to undertake research on farming on peat soils in the Midlands, building on the European Innovation Partnership schemes run by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine; development of ‘Bioeconomy Districts’ and ‘Living Labs’ to support circular bioeconomy value chain development within the Region; implementation of regional tourism strategies, supporting the development of trail networks on re-purposed sites and supporting businesses in this sector to develop products and services and to build their capacity.

The development of facilities at Ferbane Food Campus, where the total project cost was €770,000 has been cited as an example of a supported project. The national fund contributed €595,000 which helped provide local employment by developing a centre of excellence for food research, development and production.

The fund programme was recently launched by Environment Minister Eamon Ryan. Green Party Minister of State from Offaly, Senator Pippa Hackett, was also at the launch.

Minister Hackett said: “As someone who lives in the Midlands I’m delighted to see this significant investment for the region from the EU Just Transition Fund. I’m particularly pleased with the two flagship initiatives from my department. The €35 million in funding I am announcing today, for the Midlands Carbon Catchment Study and for Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiatives will develop projects which will engage farmers and landowners to develop products, services and jobs that will be support a sustainable, climate neutral economy right here in the Midlands. I encourage all farmers, local community groups, research performing organisations and enterprises to actively engage and collaborate together in these two opportunities so that collectively, we can realise the potential of this region.”

Laois-Offaly Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen, supported by EU Committee of the Regions member Cllr Eamon Dooley (pictured above), has also been lobbying for just transition funding in recent years and they travelled to Brussels to meet EU Commission officials to ensure inclusion in Europe’s Platform for Coal Regions.