Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 June 2021
53. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the breakdown of just transition funding; and the number of workers it is expected to support on an annual basis. [32386/21]
View answerThe Just Transition Fund was established in 2020 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 Department held a competitive call for applications to this Fund, which closed on 17 July 2020, in response to which over 100 applications were received. 16 'Strand 1' projects, announced in September 2020, have concluded grant agreements with the Department, with a total Just Transition Fund allocation of €1.2m. Provisional grant offers were issued to a further 47 successful applicants through ‘Strand 2’, with a provisional funding value of €27.8m. The Department is currently in the process of finalising grant agreements with these projects. To date, contracts have been issued to 13 ‘Strand 2’ projects with a total Just Transition Fund allocation of almost €6.5m.
There is a widespread allocation of funding for each of the eight eligible counties included in the Just Transition Fund, which include East Galway, Kildare, Laois, Longford, North Tipperary, Offaly, Roscommon and Westmeath.
Supported projects will create viable employment opportunities for workers affected in the Midlands region by the closures of the ESB power plants. Strand 1 projects have reported to my Department that they intend to create 28 full-time jobs, and that a further 175 indirect jobs will be supported as a result of this funding. This funding has also leveraged an additional €383,000 in the region. Once all grant agreements have been finalised, the Department will report on the breakdown of just transition projects by county and expected job creation numbers.
