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Just Transition Fund
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
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The Just Transition Fund (JTF) is a key pillar of the government’s just transition plan for the Midlands region. A 2020 fund will be available for projects focusing on retraining workers and proposals to generate sustainable employment in green enterprise in the region, and supporting communities to transition to a low carbon economy.
The objective is to fund innovative projects that contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the Wider Midlands region and which have employment and enterprise potential. It will support projects that take a whole-of-Midlands strategic approach and complement other sources of public funding.
Final offers are dependent on project applicants providing additional documentation and evidences. Projects may also undergo further review for State Aid compliance.
Just Transition Fund Application Form
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Just Transition Fund Draft Funding Agreement
DownloadFor more information, please email JTF@decc.gov.ie
The 2020 call for applications for the Just Transition Fund closed on 17 July 2020 .
Provisional offers totalling €1.2 million were made to 16 successful applicants under Strand 1 of the 2020 Fund. Successful projects include a feasibility study to scope out the development of a renewable energy technology, examining the potential of brewing artisan beers in the Midlands region using a Bord na Móna site, extending an existing biodiversity park boardwalk, and renovating a local community hall to facilitate remote working and training.
The full list of provisional offers:
| Project Name | Lead Applicant | Counties impacted | ||
| 1 | Provision of Remote Working Hub and Training Facility: Moore Community Hall | Moore Community Council | Roscommon | |
| 2 | Mide | Enterprise Ireland | Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath | |
| 3 | Training Workshop | Ballycommon Telework and Training Centre CLG | Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath | |
| 4 | Geopark and Biosphere Research Study | Green Offaly | Offaly | |
| 5 | Umeras Peatlands Park: Design Study | Umeras Community Development | Kildare, Laois, Offaly | |
| 6 | Lough Ree Bay Boardwalk | Roscommon County Council | Roscommon | |
| 7 | Athlone Co-Working Hub | Athlone Co-Working Hub (CWH) | East Galway, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath | |
| 8 | Producing and Promoting Green Energy Birr and SW Offaly | Birr 20:20 Vision Company Limited | East Galway, North Tipperary, Offaly, Roscommon | |
| 9 | Extension to Peatland Biodiversity Boardwalk 4th Final Phase | Peatland Biodiversity Boardwalk Fourth Final Phase - Lullymore | Kildare, Offaly | |
| 10 | Alektra: Feasibility Study Stage 2 | Lumcloon Energy Limited | Offaly | |
| 11 | PolySafe | RR Power Projects | Kildare, Laois, Longford, Offaly Westmeath | |
| 12 | Lanesboro Anerobic Digestion Facility: Feasibility Study | Longford County Council | Longford, Roscommon | |
| 13 | West Offaly: Quality of Life, Place and Experience | Offaly Local Development Company | Offaly | |
| 14 | Lough Ree Technology Cluster Study | FDT Consulting Engineers and PM Limited | Longford, Roscommon | |
| 15 | Ballyforan Area Development Feasibility Study | Ballyforan Area Transition Team | East Galway, Roscommon | |
| 16 | Baylin Bog Trail | Baylin Development Association | Westmeath |
The following clarification documents form part of the Information Booklet and should be interpreted alongside the Fund criteria as set out above. Interested parties should refer to the clarifications issued and ensure that responses have been taken into account when preparing applications.
An Excel spreadsheet is now available for Section 7 information (Financial Robustness and Sustainability). Applicants can enter the project financial information into either the Application Form or the Excel spreadsheet. To request a copy of the spreadsheet, please email JTF@decc.gov.ie
Just Transition Fund Clarification 1 26 June 2020
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Just Transition Fund QA Response 2
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Just Transition Fund Clarification 3 10 July 2020
DownloadProvisional offers of funding, totalling €27.8 million, have been made to 47 projects in the Midlands under the Just Transition Fund. The projects 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. This dedication from the community and targeted support will make the region an attractive and sustainable place to live and work. It will fund training and reskilling so local businesses and communities can adjust to a low-carbon transition.
Provisional offers have issued for applications for funding of €100,000 and above. These are provisional offers only and applicants will be required to provide verification information to support applications. In addition, provisional offers are subject to a State Aid assessment by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Applicants will be informed if State Aid is applicable to their project and if applicable, will engage in a process to calculate the level of funding which can be granted through the Just Transition Fund.
The provisionally successful Strand 2 projects:
| Project Name | Lead Applicant | JFT Funding Amount Sought (€) | Counties impacted | ||
| 1 | A Brown to Green Jobs Transition to Eliminate Energy Waste in Midlands Homes | Hub Controls Ltd | 1,000,000 | All counties | |
| 2 | Ballyforan Greenway Loop | Ballyforan Area Transition Team | 977,500 | East Galway, Roscommon | |
| 3 | Bord na Móna Employee Supports - Training and Upskilling Project | Bord na Móna | 1,000,000 | All counties | |
| 4 | Bord na Móna Medicinal Herbs Project | Bord na Móna | 1,000,000 | All counties | |
| 5 | Building Resilience and Adaptability in Primary School Children through STEM in Impacted Communities | Offaly County Council | 119,000 | Offaly | |
| 6 | Climate Action Training and Mentoring Programme | Eastern and Midlands Climate Action Regional Office | 255,000 | All counties | |
| 7 | Cloontuskert Ballyleague Bog Heritage Train | Roscommon County Council | 212,000 | Roscommon | |
| 8 | Cloontuskert Ballyleague Visitor Centre and Organic Farm | Roscommon County Council | 212,000 | Roscommon | |
| 9 | Community Led Just Transition North Tipperary | Energy Communities Tipperary Cooperative CLG | 995,000 | North Tipperary | |
| 10 | Connecting Communities with Peatlands | Irish Rural Link | 277,079 | All counties | |
| 11 | Conservation and Pollination - Medieval Churches in Laois and Offaly | Laois County Council | 748,000 | Laois, Offaly | |
| 12 | Digital Learning Hub - Longford | Longford Westmeath ETB | 1,000,000 | Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath | |
| 13 | Edenderry Carbon Challenge: Feasibility Study | Edenderry Tidy Towns | 70,000 | Offaly | |
| 14 | Employment Development Information Centre Transition Campus | Employment Development Information Centre Longford | 359,846 | Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath | |
| 15 | Empower Eco | Athlone Institute of Technology | 907,765 | All counties | |
| 16 | Enablers of a Just Transition for Communities in the Midlands Region | University of Limerick - Centre for Environmental Research | 217,600 | All counties | |
| 17 | Ferbane Food Campus and Innovation Centre | Ferbane Business and Technology Park CLG | 595,000 | Offaly | |
| 18 | Green HQ for Offaly | Offaly Local Development Company and Green Offaly | 960,298 | Offaly | |
| 19 | Ballinahown Village Hall Revitalisation Project | Ballinahown Community Development Ltd | 212,500 | Westmeath | |
| 20 | Kinnegad Economic Enterprise Space | Westmeath County Council | 841,657 | Westmeath | |
| 21 | Lanesboro Food Hub | Premier Lakelands Hub | 1,000,000 | Longford, Roscommon | |
| 22 | Lanesborough Tourism Hub | Longford County Council | 212,500 | Longford, Roscommon | |
| 23 | Littleton Labyrinth | Tipperary County Council | 663,719 | East Galway, Laois, North Tipperary | |
| 24 | Lough Boora Discovery Park and Midlands Cycling Destination - Sustainable Connections 2020 | Offaly County Council | 998,155 | All counties | |
| 25 | Lough Boora Enhancement: Cycle Way and Feasibility Study - Industrial Art Space | Bord na Móna | 448,314 | All counties | |
| 26 | Lough Ree Access for All | Lough Ree Access for All CLG | 471,693 | Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath | |
| 27 | Lough Ree Distillery - Phase 2 | Blacksmith Ventures Limited | 1,000,000 | Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath | |
| 28 | Midland Bioenergy Development Project | Irish BioEnergy Association | 255,000 | All counties | |
| 29 | Midlands Ireland.ie Digital Roadmap | Laois County Council | 998,750 | Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath | |
| 30 | Midlands Network of Co-working Facilities - Business Development | Laois County Council | 255,000 | Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath | |
| 31 | Midlands Retrofit Growth | KORE Retrofit Ltd | 948,600 | All counties | |
| 32 | Mid-Shannon Wilderness Park Greenway | Longford County Council | 102,000 | Longford, Roscommon | |
| 33 | North Kildare Business and Learning Campus: Site Expansion Works | Allenwood Community Development Association CLG | 810,394 | Kildare | |
| 34 | Pedestrian and Cycle Link - Killucan to Royal Canal | Westmeath County Council | 391,000 | Westmeath | |
| 35 | Pulse Hub: Creation of Remote Working Hubs in Ballinasloe Town | Ballinasloe Area Community Development CLG | 490,747 | East Galway, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath | |
| 36 | Real Leaf Farm | Galway Herb Farm Limited t/a Real Leaf Farm | 1,000,000 | Offaly | |
| 37 | Regenerating Abbeyshrule for Technology, Tourism and Culture | The Yard Hub CLG | 189,572 | Longford | |
| 38 | Renovation of the Harbour Building, Kilbeggan | Kilbeggan Grand Canal Harbour Amenity Co Ltd and Westmeath County Council | 622,073 | Westmeath | |
| 39 | Rhode Green Energy Park | Offaly County Council | 807500 | Offaly | |
| 40 | Rhode Green Energy Park Integration Study | Newleaf | 100,000 | Offaly | |
| 41 | Social Enterprise Exchange | The Cluster Centre | 170,978 | East Galway, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath | |
| 42 | St Joseph's Community Centre Development | Kilcormac Development Association | 435,853 | Offaly | |
| 43 | Strategic Area Response Plan Implementation | Shannonbridge Action Group | 405,960 | East Galway, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath | |
| 44 | Superhomes Midlands | Tipperary Energy Agency CLG | 603,625 | All counties | |
| 45 | The Lir Project | Fergal Moran and Brian O'Carroll | 1,000,000 | Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath | |
| 46 | Traveller Community Enterprise and Social Farming Project | Offaly Traveller Movement | 997,738 | Offaly | |
| 47 | Tullamore Enterprise Space and Infrastructure | Offaly Innovation and Design Centre CLG | 476,000 | Offaly | |
| Total: €27,815,416 |
The total Strand 2 JTF funding is subject to State Aid assessment and a project verification process.
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.
The evaluation of Strand 2 projects has been completed and 25 projects have been deemed as coming under State Aid. The Department has engaged external legal services to assist in the State Aid process and provide advice on queries from applicants regarding State Aid Templates. This is a technical process and the information below provides an overview of State Aid and GBER to assist in the completion of the State Aid Template.
Just Transition Fund - State Aid FAQ
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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
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