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National Just Transition Fund

Please note – The below information is only for the National Just Transition Fund 2020. The Fund is closing at the end of 2024. Access information and updates regarding the EU Just Transition Fund 2021-2027.

The National Just Transition Fund (JTF) was made available in 2020 as a key pillar of the Government’s plan for the Midlands region to support communities transitioning to a low carbon economy. The focus was on retraining workers and generating sustainable employment in green enterprise across the region.

The objective of the Fund was to facilitate innovative projects that contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the Wider Midlands region (including East Galway, Kildare, Laois, Longford, North Tipperary, Offaly, Roscommon and Westmeath) and have significant employment and enterprise potential. The Fund supported projects that take a whole-of-Midlands strategic approach and complement other sources of public funding.

The projects selected for funding represent innovative and inspiring plans from businesses, local authorities and communities in the Midlands who are committed to creating a green and sustainable economy for the region in order to make the region a more attractive and sustainable place to live and work. The Fund supported training and reskilling so that local businesses and communities can adjust to a low-carbon transition.

Supported projects are diverse and cover a range of opportunities for the region. They include new enterprise hubs, local business development, research and exploratory studies, tourism and heritage projects, and opportunities for reskilling.

56 projects were selected for funding through a competitive process. 16 projects started project delivery in September 2020 and 40 larger value projects started project delivery from June 2021.

The Fund is providing a maximum of €22.1 million in grant funding to the projects. These projects were expected to bring €15 million in additional funding to the region and support an estimated 178 direct and 999 indirect jobs, as reported by the grantees.

Details of all projects supported under the national Just Transition Fund are listed below:

Category 1 – Business Development

Project Code and Name Grantee Main Counties to Benefit Summary and Presentation Grant Amount €
39: Developing a New Lanesboro Food Hub: Building Fit-out - Premier Lakelands Hub CLG Premier Lakelands Food Hub Longford and East Roscommon The project involves the construction and fit-out of a dedicated food hub building. Once occupied, it will provide direct and indirect employment opportunities for ex-Bord na Mona employees and their families, particularly those affected from the greater catchment area 1,000,000
59: Ferbane Food Campus and Innovation Centre Ferbane Business and Technology Park CLG Offaly Project involves the refurbishment and modifying the current 465 square metres building internally to create necessary space to facilitate existing tenants in employing required additional staff. Converting the vacated area into a fully serviced co-working workspace with super-fast broadband to facilitate remote working. Provide facilities for 3 additional food producer companies 1,000,000
80: Promoting the Midlands: Digital Platform and Events Laois County Council Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath Develop a 'destination platform' promoting the Midlands as a destination of choice to live, work and invest through Midlands Ireland.ie 998,750
94: Mide: Feasibility Study (Strand 1 project) Enterprise Ireland Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath A feasibility study on creating niche malt products for brewing artisan beer from the midlands region, with Bord na Mona being employed in the process as a result 59,500
104: Rhode Green Energy Park Completion Works and Renewable Energy Feasibility Study Offaly County Council Offaly Will carry out infrastructure works to complete Rhode Green Energy Park and complete a Feasibility Study entitled “Exploring Data Centre Integration with Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen in the Midlands” 738,820
105: North Kildare Business and Learning Campus: Site Expansion Works Allenwood Community Development Association CLG Kildare, Offaly, Laois This project will carry out site expansion works at an ex Bord na Mona site, Allenwood Green Enterprise Park, to facilitate the establishment of up to 16 new/relocating green manufacturing and service enterprises with potential to create 160 new jobs 782,782
106: Additional Enterprise and Office Space in Tullamore Offaly Innovation and Design Centre CLG Offaly Project will increase Tullamore's economic potential by having the necessary landing space, and planning in place for second site development for FDI and enterprises expanding into Offaly 476,000

Category 2 – Education, Training and Upskilling

Project Code and Name Grantee Main Counties to Benefit Summary and Presentation Grant Amount €
118: Developing a New Digital Learning Hub in Longford Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath The funding will be used to renovate a building located on the LWETB Longford Campus to develop a purpose built Further Education and Training Digital Learning Hub 1,000,000
122: Building Resilience and Adaptability in Primary School Children through STEM Offaly County Council Offaly Extend a current STEM programme to include additional schools in the county. This will allow Offaly County Council to roll out the more advanced VEX Robotics programme to all post primary schools in Offaly 119,000
134: Bord na Mona Employee Supports: Training and Upskilling Project Bord na Mona All eight counties A training and up-skilling project to ensure BnM workers can begin to immediately retrain and up-skill to take up training opportunities. This will assist workers to undertake up-skilling courses and prepare for other career paths and opportunities 590,000
155: Training Workshop (Strand 1 project) Ballycommon Telework and Training Centre CLG Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath Expansion of the local centre to offer training courses in the areas of horticulture, automation, robotics, home improvements and repairs, solar energy for beginners etc 59,853

Category 3 – Development of Co-Working and Enterprise Hubs

Project Code and Name Grantee Main Counties to Benefit Summary and Presentation Grant Amount €
45: Provision of a Remote Working Hub and Training Facility - Moore Community Hall (Strand 1 project) Moore Community Council Roscommon Refurbishment of Moore Community Hall to facilitate the provision of a remote working hub and training facility. This includes the creation of two new rooms in the local hall 55,250
47: Pulse Hub: Creation of a New Remote Working Hub in Ballinasloe Town Ballinasloe Area Community Development Ltd East Galway, Offaly, Roscommon Project involves the creation of co-working and remote working spaces in Ballinasloe supporting people in East Galway, West Offaly, South Roscommon and Westmeath to work remotely which will be known as Pulse Hubs. This will create a dynamic network to drive enterprise, innovation, start-ups 490,748
49: Regenerating Abbeyshrule for Technology, Tourism & Culture The Yard Hub CLG Longford Project involves conversion of derelict buildings creating space for economic and enterprise development and enhancing the first impression of visitors along the Royal Canal Greenway to the village. The Yard Hub will provide an opportunity for people commuting to urban centres to work remotely. The Yard Hub will also have an education centre available for groups and educators needs 189,572
54: Conversion of the Harbour Building Kilbeggan to an Enterprise and Community Business Hub Kilbeggan Grand Canal Harbour Amenity Co Ltd and Westmeath County Council Offaly, Westmeath Project will renovate the Harbour Building in Kilbeggan to modernise an existing, under-used facility within the community to provide co-working spaces, enterprise start-up offices, and community meeting spaces, fully insulated to reduce carbon emissions 499,307
73: Kinnegad New Economic Enterprise Hub and Hub Management Westmeath County Council Offaly, Westmeath Leasing, refurbishment and kit out of an under-utilised building for co-working facilities and enterprise space at the Eastwae site in Kinnegad. This facilitate the establishment of up to 25 new/relocating enterprises with potential to create 130 new jobs 841,657
81: Midlands Network of Co-working Facilities (MNCF) - Business Development Manager Laois County Council Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath Appointment of a Regional Business Development Manager (BDM) to drive the expansion and development of co-working facilities within the region and to explore strategic partnerships for sites in state ownership 199,988
100: Athlone Co-Working Hub (CWH) (Strand 1 project) Athlone Co-Working Hub (CWH) East Galway, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath Feasibility study on the eco-aligned refurbishment of a historic building in Athlone to meet sustainable operation standards including upgrade of technology communications systems to transform the building into a co-working hub, to clarify refurbishment costs and inform a full funding application 77,826
110: Saint Joseph’s Community Centre: New Remote Working Hub and Cycle Tourism Centre Kilcormac Development Association Offaly A series of projects to reinvigorate the community and local economy by maximising their potential as the gateway to Boora. A Tourist Recreation Hub on the grounds of St. Josephs Community Centre which will include facilities for hiring bicycles, purchase of train tickets and the provision of tourist information. Additionally, a Remote Working Hub in the Community Centre offering co-working facilities for local commuters and businesses. 435,796

Category 4 - Renewable Energies and Retrofitting

Project Code and Name Grantee Main Counties to Benefit Summary and Presentation Grant Amount €
25: Producing and Promoting Green Energy Birr and South West Offaly (Strand 1 project) Birr 20:20 Vision Company Ltd. East Galway, North Tipperary, Offaly, Roscommon Feasibility study for anaerobic digestion and a training course and producer discussion group focused on energy crop production and anaerobic digestion. A training course and follow on producer discussion group focused on energy crop production and anaerobic digestion 81,175
35.63.114: Rhode Green Energy Park Integration and Design Study Newleaf Energy Ltd. Offaly, Westmeath Project involves the completion of a detailed feasibility study. Study will examine the combination of renewable technologies to their current operation and study the overall carbon abatement ability of these new technologies 100,000
36: Alektra - Feasibility Study Stage 2 (Strand 1 project) Lumcloon Energy Ltd. Offaly Feasibility study to identify technologies to build a hydrogen power plant in West Offaly 85,000
38: Lanesboro Anerobic Digestion Facility – Feasibility Study (Strand 1 project) Longford County Council Longford, Roscommon Feasibility study into the potential establishment of an Anaerobic Digestion facility on lands on the current site of Lough Ree Power 85,000
61: Midlands Retrofit One-Stop-Shop Superhomes Ireland Ltd All eight counties Project will work with 30 contractors to provide a retrofitting service to homeowners in the Midlands Region. Will deliver a minimum of 175 deep retrofits by 2023 and employ engineering, customer service and sales staff in a new regional office 407,576
113: Lough Ree Technology Cluster Study (Strand 1 project) John Hanley, FDT Consulting Engineers and PM Ltd. Longford, Roscommon The study is to investigate how a technology cluster could be established in Lanesborough / Ballyleague, integrated with clean energy sources and a focus on the bioeconomy and integrating enterprises from a circular economy perspective 101,703
130: PolySafe (Strand 1 project) RR Power Projects Ltd. Kildare, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath Feasibility study into the transferable knowledge from pulp and paper and waste water 84,618
150: Phase 1 Community Led Just Transition North Tipperary: Home Upgrades 150: Community Led Just Transition North Tipperary: Home Upgrades - Phase 2 Energy Communities Tipperary Cooperative CLG North Tipperary Project will mobilise community-led energy efficiency in communities affected by peat plant closures. Phase 1 is Animation and Assessment and will involve informing the public, technical assessments, and enlisting householdPhase 2 of the project involves carrying out retrofitting activities of homes and community centre buildings, running a Behavioural Change Programme to educate householders on how to make savings to energy bills and carrying out a Feasibility Study regarding the installation of PV panels on community owned buildings 101,220 622,419 123,405 1,054,175
159: Edenderry Carbon Challenge: Feasibility Study on Edenderry as a Smart Grid/Green Hub Edenderry Tidy Towns All eight counties As part of the Edenderry Carbon Challenge, industry experts will carry out a feasibility study to explore ways in which Edenderry can become an exemplary Smart Grid/Green Energy Hub by harnessing renewable energy resources, reducing carbon emissions and implementing smart grid technologies 60,439
160: Real Leaf Farm – New Hydroponics Facility Galway Herb Farm Ltd Offaly An agri-tech development of sustainable hydroponic farming to grow pesticide and herbicide-free salad produce year-round, whilst minimising wastage, excessive transport and ensuring food security 1,000,000
161: Midlands Bioenergy Development Project Irish Bioenergy Association All eight counties Project will deliver a bioenergy knowledge transfer programme on opportunities in biomass production, biogas production, wood fuel and energy crop processing and production and biochar production and usage. Will link producers, processing business, energy users and investors and includes a mentoring programme for 12 start-ups in the midlands 255,000

Category 5 – Tourism, Heritage and Restoration

Project Code and Name Grantee Main Counties to Benefit Summary and Presentation Grant Amount €
15: Geopark and Biosphere Research Study (Strand 1 project) Green Offaly CLG Offaly A research project to explore the potential of Offaly to apply for UNESCO Global Geoparks and Biosphere Reserve status 62,730
16: Shannonbridge Strategic Implementation Plan Shannonbridge Action Group CLG Offaly, Roscommon, East Galway A strategic plan for the area incorporating a number of relevant projects. These include the relocated Clonmacnoise Visitor Centre; rail, road and walking trails and tours linked to national trails; a climate change centre; additional mooring and parking facilities; an enterprise hub and public realm upgrade 138,008
20: Lough Boora Enhancement – Development of a Velo Rail Bord na Móna All eight counties Installation of a Cycle Velo Rail within Lough Boora Discovery Park. Accompanied by a feasibility study to examine the re purposing of Boora Workshops into spaces for a permanent Industrial Heritage display, centre of learning and excellence, examples being art, film, sculpture centre, crafts, cultural events and education. 445,349
32: The Lir Project LIRPRO Ltd Offaly, Roscommon, Galway Project will create a new hybrid visitor attraction with a significant investment in technology to provide an immersive and fun experience for all visitors around the bog scape’s themes. It will create a low-carbon World Class Visitor experience to help preserve and advocate the peatlands. 1,000,000
37.108: Conservation and Pollination - Six Medieval Churches in Laois and Offaly Laois County Council Laois, Offaly Conservation of six medieval churches in Laois and Offaly in collaboration with local communities in each area. One church per Municipal District in each county will be conserved, a total of six sites. There is also a biodiversity element to the project i.e. bee pollinator work 748,000
40.1: Lanesborough Tourism Hub: Feasibility and Design Study Longford County Council Longford Project involves exploring options for the establishment of a tourism hub in Lanesborough, which allow for a suite of projects to build on the tourism infrastructure in the area and make Lanesborough/Ballyleague a more attractive tourism location in line with the offering of Ireland's Hidden Heartlands 212,500
86: Boat Eco-Tourism Service: Renovation of Boat Club and New Disability Friendly Passenger Boat Lough Ree Access for All CLG Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath A new outdoor recreation reception centre will be developed by retrofitting and refurbishing a derelict premises to attain Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) standard. Includes the purchase of a new boat for groups of up to 12 people – with over 7 wheelchair users for the first time ever on a passenger vessel in Britain or Ireland 471,693
89: Cloontuskert Visitor Centre and Organic Farm Feasibility and Design Study Roscommon County Council Roscommon A feasibility and design study exploring the creation of an educational and interactive, audio visual, and virtual reality visitor experience which will bring tourists to the region 212,500
97: Refurbishment of Ballinahown Village Hall Ballinahown Community Development Ltd Westmeath, Offaly To upgrade community hall in Ballinahown village to meeting the changing needs of the community. 215,000
156: Lough Ree Distillery - Phase 2 Blacksmith Ventures Ltd Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath Lough Ree Distillery commenced operations in August 2018 with Phase 1 of its development - the opening of a micro-distillery in Lanesborough, which produces small quantities of award winning Gin, Vodka and other white spirits. This project is for Phase 2 of the company's plans - the construction of a full-scale commercial Whiskey distillery and visitor experience on the company's main site adjacent to the River Shannon in Lanesborough 1,000,000

Category 6 – Community Development and Capacity Building

Project Code and Name Grantee Main Counties to Benefit Summary and Presentation Grant Amount €
12: West Offaly: Quality of Life, Place and Experience (Strand 1 project) Offaly Local Development Company Offaly Developing an approach to regional development which starts with understanding the type of environment people locally want to create and work collaboratively with willing partners 91,162
14: Development of a Green HQ - Climate Action and Green Enterprise Centre, Offaly Offaly Local Development Company Offaly This project involves the conversion of Fiesta Hall, Kilcormac, into a centralised headquarters for climate action research, green business enterprises and sustainability training programmes for County Offaly 960,349
62: Revamp Longford Circular Economy Project Employment Development and Information Centre Longford (EDI Centre) Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath This project will further develop an existing social enterprise, Revamp Longford, strengthening the circular economy. It will involve the recruitment of a Social Enterprise Development Manager to lead on project delivery and support a range of circular economy projects 161,394
74: Ballyforan Area Development Feasibility Study (Strand 1 project) Ballyforan Area Transition Team CLG East Galway, Roscommon A local transition plan for the community to understand the viability of a number of project ideas to revitalise the community 97,750
119: Social Enterprise Exchange The Cluster Centre East Galway, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath This project is a research, knowledge sharing and collaboration-based initiative that will grow shared understanding of the existing county Social Enterprise asset base, the support systems at county level and facilitate interactions and growth between industry 170,978
126: Connecting Communities with Peatlands: Capacity Building Programme Irish Rural Link All eight counties The project seeks to intensify and broaden the current activities of the Community Wetlands Forum in providing a networking platform for community-led conservation groups through sharing knowledge, ideas, research and best practice 277,080
148: Climate Action Midlands Training and Mentoring Programme Eastern and Midlands Climate Action Regional Office All eight counties The establishment of a Climate Action Training and Mentoring Programme centred around building capacity and empowering impacted communities. Will focus on enabling impacted communities within the Midlands Region to enhance their knowledge, understanding and confidence 255,000

Category 7 – Greenways and Walking

Project Code and Name Grantee Main Counties to Benefit Summary and Presentation Grant Amount €
40: Mid-Shannon Wilderness Park Greenway: Design Study Longford County Council Longford Funding will be used to do a Preliminary Design and Environmental Assessment of trails within BnM bogs in County Roscommon up to statutory consent stage and full stage consultancy service for conversion of Kilnacarrow Bridge 102,000
56.58: Lough Boora Discovery Park Greenways and The Midlands Cycling Destination Strategy Offaly County Council Offaly, Westmeath, East Galway The project will develop enhanced cycling and walking links between the Grand Canal Greenway and Lough Boora Discovery Park and produce a strategy for creating a major cycling destination in the Midlands 998,155
66: Tipperary Littleton Labyrinth: Development of a Walking and Cycling Trail Tipperary County Council North Tipperary The project will develop a loop walk at Loch Dhoire Bhile and a loop trail at Derrynaflan to develop a trail linking these two amenities thereby greatly enhancing recreation, amenity, tourism and rural connectivity 663,719
67: Baylin Bog Trail (Strand 1 project) Baylin Development Association Westmeath Creating a looped trail linking Baylin Village and the adjoining bog which is part of Carn Park Bog SAC. The proposed trail is 2.61km 99,450
71: Development of a Pedestrian and Cycle Link: Killucan to the Royal Canal Westmeath County Council Westmeath This project consists of creating a safe segregated walking and cycling link connecting Killucan/Rathwire to the Royal Canal Greenway that forms part of the Galway - Dublin National Cycle Network 391,000
72: Ballyforan Greenway Loop Ballyforan Area Transition Team East Galway and Roscommon This project involves the construction of a Greenway Loop along the existing BNM railway line route to Ballyforan Village 977,500
88: Lough Ree Bay Boardwalk Feasibility Study (Strand 1 project) Roscommon County Council Roscommon Feasibility study for a Lough Ree Bay Boardwalk to create access to Lough Ree Bay and shoreline, including environmental assessment and detailed design to underpin the tourism potential 76,500
117: Umeras Peatlands Park - Design Study (Strand 1 project) Umeras Community Development Kildare, Laois, Offaly Study to establish feasibility and design/planning work to create a peatlands park on the decommissioned Bord na Mona Umeras Bog located between Monasterevin and Rathangan 62,730
139: Extension to Peatland Biodiversity Boardwalk 4th Final Phase (Strand 1 project) Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park CLG Kildare, Offaly A 300 metre extension to a biodiversity boardwalk in Lullymore Heritage Park which will provide access to the West Plantation Woodland and traverse the Peatland biodiversity area 83,200

State Aid

State Aid is the name given in the EU to a subsidy provided by government (including state bodies) that distorts competition and affects trade between EU Member States. EU State Aid rules may apply to the award of funding under the Just Transition Fund. State Aid is reviewed on a case-by-case basis from the project applications received. There are two State Aid regulations applicable to the Just Transition Fund: the De Minimis Regulation and the General Block Exemptions Regulations (GBER). The level of support provided to any project will be determined by European Union State Aid rules under the GBER.

Your questions answered: Just Transition Fund - State Aid
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Just Transition Fund - Philip Lee State Aid Presentation
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Just Transition Fund GBER Scheme - December 2023
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Fund Documents

Just Transition Fund Information Booklet
Information Booklet 2020
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Just Transition Fund Draft Funding Agreement - Dec 2021
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For more information on the Fund, please email jtf@dcee.gov.ie

Read more about our progress on implementing a Just Transition

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