The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communication, Eamon Ryan TD, has on 20th December, launched a public consultation on a draft of Ireland’s Territorial Just Transition Plan, in partnership with the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly.

The plan will set out how Ireland proposes to invest funding from the EU Just Transition Fund – to support a just transition in the wider Midlands region. The EU Just Transition Fund is designed to assist communities across Europe to meet the challenges of the green transition, in line with the objective of achieving EU climate neutrality by 2050 in an effective and fair manner – ensuring that nobody is left behind. The wider Midlands region has been proposed as the territory for investment under the draft Territorial Just Transition Plan. This region comprises East Galway, North Tipperary, Longford, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, West Kildare and Roscommon.

Up to €84.5 million has been allocated to Ireland under the EU Just Transition Fund over the period to 2027. The Government will complement this funding with Exchequer resources.

This public consultation is asking for stakeholders’ views on the transition process and the draft plan which, when finalised, will be submitted to the European Commission for approval. The consultation invites stakeholders to complete an online survey and to attend online workshops.

Two online workshops (18th and 25th January) will allow for in-depth discussions on priorities for the EU Just Transition Fund. A third online workshop, for young people in the region, is being organised with national youth representative organisations to ensure that people impacted have the opportunity to shape the plan. There will also be specific information sessions for Oireachtas members, as well as relevant local authorities and their members.

The consultation is open until the 14th February 2022. The draft Territorial Just Transition Plan and consultation survey are available at this link: https://www.gov.ie/en/consultation/352c3-public-consultation-on-the-eu-just-transition-fund/.

A report summarising the responses received will be made available online after the consultation period.