Fáilte Ireland has approved €32m in grants under its EU Just Transition Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme.
The EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) is a new fund created to support the regions and communities in Europe that are most negatively affected by the transition to climate neutrality and to promote socio-economic transition, ensuring that no one is left behind.
Ireland is set to receive up to €84.5m from the EU Just Transition Fund up to 2027. With the Government's match funding using Exchequer resources, up to €169m will be available in the period up to 2027.
The new funding includes a €5.5m Digital Transformation Programme, which 85 businesses will participate in.
Meanwhile €23.5 of investment will be spread across 22 projects.
Funding includes €7.8m for the redevelopment of the visitor centre at Clonmacnoise in Co Offaly, €3.2m for the delivery of interpretation and visitor facilities at Athlone Castle in Co Westmeath, €2.7m for the redevelopment and regeneration of Emily Square in Athy town in Co Kildare, €2.97m for the upgrade and introduction of new exhibitions at Roscrea Castle in Co Tipperary and over €1.85m for increased capacity and range of activities for Lough Key Forest Park in Co Roscommon.
As a beneficiary of the Trail Development element of the scheme, Bord na Móna has been awarded €3.6m towards the creation of up to 79km of new walking and cycling trails, across suitable parts of the Bord na Móna landbank in the following areas:
Longford - between Lanesborough and Cloondara
Roscommon - between Termonbarry and Roosky
Westmeath - between Athlone and Ballinahown
Offaly East - between Grand Canal Greenway and Mount Lucas
Offaly West - around Clonmacnoise, Ballinahown and Lough Boora
Tipperary - between Littleton/Lough Doire Bhuile
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin said these projects mark the first steps in the regenerative tourism development journey in the Midlands.
"The projects funded support our move as a nation towards a low-carbon economy, in line with the Programme for Government commitment for the development of a Sustainable Tourism Policy, which will support sustainable economic development and job creation," Minister Margin said.
"We're already seeing a significant impact in the Midlands as all counties within the region have been represented across these approved investments in projects, with more to come," she added.
Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan said today marks a significant milestone in the green transition as Fáilte Ireland announces the first projects under the EU Just Transition Fund Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme targeted at the Midlands Region.
"This initiative, co-funded by the Government and the European Union not only provides new employment and economic opportunities for communities and businesses in the Midlands but also helps protect biodiversity, supporting a greener, more sustainable, and low-carbon future. I look forward to the delivery of these projects and to their positive impact on the Midlands Region," Mr Ryan said.
The CEO of Fáilte Ireland, Paul Kelly, said these initial investment grants for projects under the Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking scheme is just the beginning of the EU Just Transition journey for Ireland’s Midlands.
"These transformative projects, spanning the entire region, will create more reasons for domestic and international tourists to visit Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Ireland’s Ancient East, generating new opportunities for employment, empowering local businesses, and enhancing local communities, while strengthening the appeal of the Midlands as a tourist destination for generations to come," Mr Kelly said.
"With further investment in projects to be announced over the coming months, this is a very exciting time for the Midlands," he said.
The head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, Barbara Nolan, said that Ireland can be at the forefront of the EU’s efforts to diversify its economy towards greener and more progressive industries, helping to achieve the EU’s Green Deal goals.
"One of the objectives of the EU's Just Transition Fund is to support Ireland's Midlands to further develop the potential of the local economy. Investing in sustainable tourism will not only generate local jobs but is also a step further in positioning the Midlands as an attractive tourist destination in the heart of Ireland," Ms Nolan stated.
