Cowen welcomes new €5m midlands Just Transition scheme

Fianna Fáil TD for Laois-Offaly Barry Cowen has confirmed that €5 million in funding has been made available under the European Union’s Just Transition Fund (EUJFT) for local community organisations and SMEs in the Midlands region.

The €5 million is being provided under the EU JTF Community and Enterprise Grants scheme. It aims to provide communities formerly dependent on peat production with the capacity to develop employment opportunities in the green, circular and low-carbon economy.

Deputy Cowen said: “It has been several years since I, along with local councillors in Offaly, first interjected to insist Ireland’s application for EU just transition funding included our peatlands along with EU coal regions, so today’s provision of €5 million in funding is both overdue and hugely welcome.

“The acceleration of decarbonisation by Bord na Móna and the ESB has had a severe impact on peatlands in Offaly and the wider midlands region. The mitigation measures put in place to help cope with this acceleration have, in many ways, not kept pace to date, so my hope is the launch of this scheme will help to address that.

“The scheme is accepting applications for funding until 22 February 2024. Funding of up to €300,000 is available for projects that meet the criteria of building on the strengths of the local area, having an identified need and creating new job opportunities or increasing the sustainability of existing jobs.

“Fianna Fáil in Government will continue to take all measures possible to ensure that no region is left behind as decarbonisation continues and I will continue to prioritise doing all I can to help our communities prosper and come out of decarbonisation better than they went into it.”