The Just Transition Fund is a new financial instrument within the Cohesion Policy which aims to provide support to territories facing serious socio-economic challenges arising from the transition towards climate neutrality.

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Aims & Objectives

Support provided through the Just Transition Fund is focused on the economic diversification of the territories most affected by the climate transition as well as on the reskilling and active inclusion of their workers and jobseekers.

Its main objectives are to alleviate the impact of the transition by financing the diversification and modernisation of the local economy and by mitigating the negative repercussions on employment.

In order to achieve its objective, the Just Transition Fund supports investments in areas such as digital connectivity, clean energy technologies, the reduction of emissions, the regeneration of industrial sites, the reskilling of workers and technical assistance.

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What does it support?

Focusing on economic diversification and reskilling, the Fund aims to support regions facing serious socio-economic challenges due to the transition process.

In Ireland, the EU Just Transition Fund will support the delivery of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2021 and its objectives in relation to a 'just transition' in the wider Midlands region in response to the ending of peat extraction for power generation.

The EU Just Transition Fund may be used to:

• support enterprises to enhance the economic diversification of the wider Midlands
• train, up-skill and reskill workers affected by the exit from peat
• invest in research and innovation and the deployment of technology
• develop systems and infrastructure for clean energy

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The draft plan, which sets out how Ireland proposes to invest funding from the EU Just Transition Fund. The plan after being agreed by Government is to be submitted to the European Commission for approval

The draft Plan proposes 3 priority areas for investment in the Midlands region:

• Priority 1 - support local initiatives through a competitive grants scheme as well as regional tourism and enterprise strategies
• Priority 2 - supports innovative approaches to regeneration and repurposing of land
• Priority 3 - development of sustainable transport in the territory & contribution to increasing the capacity of environmentally friendly public transport

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Regions that are heavily reliant on fossil fuels or greenhouse gas-intensive industrial activities will need to phase out certain activities and restructure their               industries, while also protecting the environment and providing job and re-skilling opportunities to workers and their families.

This means backing productive investments in small and medium-sized enterprises, the creation of new firms, research and innovation, environmental rehabilitation, clean energy, up- and reskilling of workers, job-search assistance and active inclusion of jobseekers programmes, as well as the transformation of existing carbon-intensive installations when these investments lead to substantial emission cuts and job protection.

‍Who can apply?

• Public bodies (like Education and Training Boards, Institutes of Technology, Local Enterprise Offices)
• Local Authorities
• State Agencies and commercial semi-state bodies
• Private enterprises
• Community and voluntary organisations

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Why the EU funds a Just Transition

‍‍Read more about EU policy on the EU Green Deal.

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Budget

Up to €84.5 million has been allocated to Ireland under the EU Just Transition Fund over the period to 2027.

The Government has agreed to 100% match the proposed €84.5m allocation from the EU Just Transition Fund for the midlands region.

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Project Examples

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National Contact Point in Ireland

Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

Website

Email: JTF@decc.gov.ie

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Open Calls

Find open calls for Just Transition Fund.

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Want to find out more?

Just Transition Platform

EU Transition Fund Ireland - Consultation Summary

Just Transition Fund - Factsheet

Just Transition funding sources

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Social Media

EU in my region Twitter

Europe in my region Facebook‍