A showcase of over 170 projects funded through the EU Just Transition Fund is taking place in the midlands.
The fund, which is co-funded by the Government and the European Union, aims to address the long-term economic transition of the midlands region, following the end of commercial peat extraction and peat-fired power generation.
Up to €169 million, using Exchequer and EU resources, is available in the fund to facilitate a just transition towards a low-carbon economy in the midlands.
The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, which is the managing authority for the funding programme, is hosting the event in Co Westmeath.
It will hear from community groups and projects from across Galway, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary and Westmeath.
The fund has supported 172 projects to date, representing a total of €121 million in allocation to date with more projects being announced soon.
Initiatives supported through the fund span peatland restoration, bio-economy development, skills training, circular economy initiatives, and tourism activations.
"This is a celebration of collective achievement," said Clare Bannon, Acting Director of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly.
"The 172 funded projects to date reflect ambition, creativity and determination across the region.
"The EU Just Transition Fund programme is already delivering real impact in communities, and this event is about showcasing those successes and looking to the future together," she added.
"Today's event marks an important milestone in the transition to a carbon-neutral economy in the Midlands," said Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy Darragh O'Brien.
"The work carried out by these projects will strengthen local economies, enhance the fabric of local communities, and ensure that the Midlands continues to be a thriving area to live and visit, while supporting the path to a green future," he said.
The event will also look ahead to the next EU programming period, reflecting on progress made and the collective ambition for the region’s future.
A creative workshop with local schoolchildren, led by Laois artist Annie Holland, will also look and imagine the future of the midlands and the environment through art.
