May 20, 2021 4:23 pm
Local communities around the midlands are not benefitting from tangible results of the ‘Just Transition’, according to one senator.
Eugene Murphy questioned the viability of the Just Transition programme, claiming that locals were not seeing the creation of sustainable employment.
Murphy said that he had told the Taoiseach Micheál Martin at recent parliamentary party meetings that the region would not benefit “as anticipated”.
The senator also said he had a recent meeting with the Just Transition Commissioner Kieran Mulvey. Mulvey had, according to Murphy, expressed frustration at the speed of delivery of elements of the programme.
“A number of projects which were committed to creating a green and sustainable economy for the region were allocated funding under the Just Transition Fund but the problem is much of this funding is dependent on match funding or part funding being supplied by the various community groups,” Murphy said.
January 15, 2021 1:19 pm
Former Minister for Agriculture Barry Cowen has called for ESB money to be put towards just transition funding in the midlands.
Cowen said he is urging Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan to use €5 million from the ESB for local groups, projects and organisations in the area in the form of just transition grants, to allow them move away from reliance on peat harvesting.
“The ESB monies of €5 million was always a contribution for the localities and regions to respond to the peat-fired power plant closures and accelerated decarbonisation,” Cowen said.
So that’s the money that should be used to match government grants, dispersed by the midlands regional just transition board. It’s a simple solution to the issue.