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Climate Change Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021

Tuesday, 7 December 2021

Questions (158)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

158. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that have been taken to support a community (details supplied) impacted by the move from brown to green; the investment that has been made to the community; the efforts that have been made to replace jobs lost by the wind down of peat production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60455/21]

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Written answers

The Government is committed to a just transition in the Midlands region and has dedicated significant funding to supporting workers, companies and communities affected by the closure of the peat-fired power stations and the end of peat harvesting by Bord na Móna.

The Government has committed €108 million to Bord na Móna’s Peatlands Rehabilitation programme which will create 350 jobs in total and contribute to Ireland’s target of being climate-neutral no later than 2050. Further funding of €14 million has been provided in 2021 to the National Parks and Wildlife Service to fund peatlands restoration on protected raised bogs in the Midlands region.

Through the national Just Transition Fund over €15.5 million is being provided in grant funding to 47 projects in the wider Midlands region. Funded projects are diverse and cover a range of opportunities throughout the region including: new enterprise hubs, supporting local business development, research and exploratory studies, tourism and heritage projects, and opportunities for reskilling. Three of these projects will support economic opportunities in the community referred to. Further details of these projects can be found at www.gov.ie/en/publication/ed10d-just-transition-fund/.

The EU Just Transition Fund is a newly established fund which seek to address the adverse effects of the climate transition by supporting the most affected territories and workers concerned, and promoting a balanced socio-economic transition. The Fund will be used to alleviate the socio-economic impacts of the low carbon transition in the most affected regions across the EU. Ireland is set to receive up to €84.5 million from the EU Just Transition Fund (2021-2027).

In order to access the EU Just Transition Fund, Member States are required to prepare Territorial Just Transition Plans which cover the period up to 2030 and identify the most negatively impacted territories which need support, and the programmes and channels through which that support may best be delivered. My Department is currently preparing a draft Territorial Just Transition Plan and I intend to launch a public consultation on this shortly.

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