Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2020
147. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will investigate the feasibility of a proposal (details supplied) in the context of the midlands just transition process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43427/20]
View answerThe objective of the Just Transition Fund is to support innovative projects that contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the Wider Midlands region, and which have employment and enterprise potential. The call for applications to the Fund closed on the 17 July 2020 and over 100 applications were received. The evaluation process has now been completed. Provisional offers of funding totalling €27.8 million were made to 47 projects in the Midlands in November of this year. This is in addition to the €1.2 million in funding announced for 16 projects in September 2020. Of these, provisional approval offers have been made to 13 projects for tourism and outdoor recreation investments, a number of which have a cycling focus. These include:
- Lough Boora Discovery Park and Midlands Cycling Destination which will provide enhanced cycling and walking links between the Grand Canal Greenway and Lough Boora Discovery Park.
- Lough Boora enhancement, which includes the creation of a cycle velo rail on the former rail beds.
- A Mid-Shannon Wilderness Park Greenway which will extend the greenway through Mount Dillon Bog complex and will also assess delivery of future trails.
- A pedestrian and cycle link from Killucan to the Royal Canal that forms part of the Galway to Dublin national cycle network.
Further details on projects that have received provisional offers can be found on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ed10d-just-transition-fund/.
While the deadline for applications to the Just Transition Fund has now passed, funding may also be available from the Department of Transport, which recently announced funding of €50 million to be made available to Local Authorities for investment in walking and cycling projects. Further information on this funding is available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/21f86-embargoed-50m-walking-and-cycling-fund-announced-for-towns-and-villages/
The Midland Regional Transition Team is available to assist interested parties to develop project concepts and future funding applications, and can be contacted on justtransition@mrtt.ie.
