European Union funding of €169 million to support the midlands as it transitions away from peat production and peat-fired power generation will be fair, the Minister for the Environment has said, adding "every community and every place matters".
Eamon Ryan launched Ireland's Programme for the EU Just Transition Fund at the Office of Public Works' Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre in Kenagh, Co Longford.
The funding will be used over the coming decade to create new jobs and alleviate economic impacts that come from a transition to climate neutrality.
In particular, the fund aims to address the impacts of moving away from peat production and electricity generation from peat.
It is designed to diversify the economy to create employment for former peat communities.
The funding will come from the EU Just Transition Fund, which aims to support communities in Europe that are most negatively affected by climate transitions.
"We are moving away from peat and other fossil fuels in the Midlands because people once dependent on them deserve a reshaped future with new prospects," said Sofia Alves, Director at the Regional and Urban Policy department of the European Commission.
"A total of €169 million will kick-start this process through local initiatives," she added.
Half the funding will come from the EU, with Ireland matching this using Exchequer resources.
The locations set to benefit from this funding are counties Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Laois, Roscommon and parts of Galway, Kildare and Tipperary.
Mr Ryan said the funding aims to ensure "no one is left behind" as Ireland moves toward a carbon-neutral and sustainable future.
He accepted criticism of the National Just Transition Fund, which many community groups claimed was too bureaucratic and funding was too difficult to access.
"We can learn from that, it was a struggle for some people, but they overcame it and we did get through those bureaucratic hurdles and the money is being spent and really changing a large number of communities across the midlands.".
The minister also moved to reassure businesses and community groups about this funding model.
"This should be easier, and you learn from that experience, and this is a much larger fund that's going into a lot of enterprises that I think will really benefit communities," he said.
"This money is for everyone. It won't work unless we bring every community, every place matters and every person," he stated.
Mr Ryan said: "What we're seeing in the midlands and other places, is a new economy being delivered, in wind power and in solar power".
"We can make the transition; it has to be a just one and that's what these funds will deliver," Mr Ryan added.
The Eastern Midlands Regional Assembly will manage the funding.
Micro-enterprises, SMEs, research institutions, local authorities, and community organisations can all apply for funding.
Read more: Mixed feelings on making a Just Transition in Longford
Farmers must be part of transition - Nash
Labour TD Ged Nash has said there must be changes to farming in Ireland in response to the climate crisis and there also needs to be acknowledgement that it is creating problems.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Mr Nash expressed his belief that farmers need to part of Just Transition.
Mr Nash said that the initiative for too many people, including some in farming communities, "is merely tokenism".
"It's cosmetic, it's lip service, they don't understand what that means and they need to be paid and resourced properly," he said.
