Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 February 2021
62. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the proportion of the just transition fund to be allocated to each nomenclature of territorial units for statistics, NUTS, 3 region; the basis on which this is calculated (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8842/21]
View answerThe objective of the EU Just Transition Fund is to alleviate the socio-economic impacts of the low carbon transition in the most affected regions across the EU. This Fund may be used to support the re-skilling of workers, help SMEs to create new economic opportunities, and promote the diversification of economic activity towards low-carbon sectors. Ireland has secured an allocation of €77 million from the EU Just Transition Fund for investments over the period 2021 to 2027. Ireland must prepare a Territorial Just Transition Plan, for approval by the European Commission, in order to secure access to funding. This Plan will set out Ireland’s proposed investment priorities as well as targeted sectors and regions. Work on this plan is ongoing in my Department and is being supported by the European Commission’s Structural Reform Support Programme, which will assist in the development of the evidence base to inform the selection of investment priorities for inclusion in the Territorial Plan. I envisage that this work will be completed in the first half of this year.
