Month: January 2026

Advancing Skills for a Low-Carbon Future in the Midlands

GRETB and Roscommon County Council showcases the Wind Turbine and Electric Vehicle Maintenance and Repair courses housed in the newly refurbished Roscommon Enterprise Centre on Racecourse Road.
Feedback from over 100 course participants to date has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants describing their experience as “empowering” and “transformative”.
The project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund.

Roscommon County Council (RCC), in partnership with Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB), hosted today, Friday January 30 than event to showcasing their dedicated Climate Action courses in their newly refurbished unit at Racecourse Road, Roscommon town, F42 K208.

Co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund (EUJTF), RCC in conjunction with GRETB continue to roll out two dedicated courses focusing on skills needed for a low-carbon future. The Climate Action courses comprise one training course on the construction of small-scale wind turbines, and another on the maintenance of electric vehicles.

Commenting ahead of today’s events, Minister for Climate, Energy, the Environment and Transport, Dara O’Brien T.D. said:

“This EV-WT Training Centre is an exemplar of what the Just Transition process is about. It offers a very forward focused opportunity to members of the public to develop skills relevant to our carbon neutral future.

“This innovative project will equip members of the public with essential skills in the repair and maintenance of EVs and wind turbines, an emerging skill requirement as we continue to mainstream EV use and wind energy.

“The training sessions will strengthen the local community, provide pathways to employment, and support the reduction of carbon emissions. I look forward to hearing about the social, economic, and environmental benefits that the Training Centre will bring the region,” Minister O’Brien concluded.

Both courses are collaborative in supporting participants in upskilling a local workforce that has been disadvantaged by the cessation of industrial peat extraction for energy generation in the region, as part of the ongoing transition to a carbon neutral society.

These courses have been specifically devised to capture and capitalise on the unique skillsets of workers in these former sectors, to reskill/upskill in renewable and low carbon technologies and embrace employment opportunities in these emerging areas.

To date, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many participants collaborating post-graduation on renewable technology development. Participants of both courses have described the results of their training as “empowering” and “transformative” and inspiring a desire for further training and upskilling.

The training provided will also drive innovation in the circular economy and promote uptake of EV use and ownership within the Roscommon Town Decarbonising Zone and the wider region, aligning with ongoing improvements in charging infrastructure. These provisions align with national and local Climate Action policy and represent a significant contribution to EUJTF objectives for the area.

Oireachtas representatives, members of the European Parliament, local elected representatives including the Leas Cathaoirleach of RCC, Cllr. John Keogh and its Deputy Chief Executive, Caitlín Conneely attended today’s event.

Also in attendance were representatives from the European Commission and European Union Just Transition Fund (EUJTF) administrators to celebrate the achievements of this course as a valuable educational and upskilling platform.

Speaking at today’s event, Leas Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, Cllr. John Keogh remarked:

“Today is a day when all of us acknowledge the wonderful work that has been undertaken here in our county under the EU Just Transition Fund.

“The courses that are being showcased today show how simple cost-effective education and training can empower participants while also making a welcome contribution to address climate action and meeting a real need in energy delivery and management.

“The Just Transition project enables communities to pivot from old models of energy delivery to meeting new challenges. Change is never easy, but the level of engagement illustrates how communities are willing to adapt and learn,” Cllr. Keogh concluded.

The Deputy Chief Executive of Roscommon County Council Caitlín Conneely said

both courses “demonstrated the value of broadening employment prospects for participants whilst driving down carbon emissions and increasing community resilience to the impacts of climate change.

“The availability of local maintenance will further mainstream the use of electric vehicles, supporting local and national initiatives and funding to enhance charging infrastructure. Working with GRETB, we are committed to using Just Transition funding to support communities to regenerate, particularly those who have been reliant on the production of peat and fossil fuels.

“This training programme also provides both mitigation and adaptation to the challenges of our changing climate and helps meet the county’s climate goals and statutory targets,” Ms. Conneely emphasised.

Funded by the EUJTF which is managed by EMRA and administered by Pobal, an existing enterprise building within the Roscommon Decarbonisation Zone (DZ) has been refurbished to meet the training needs of these courses. The building includes bespoke individual workstations for the DIY Wind Turbine construction course, specialist EV mechanic tools, and a dedicated Electric Vehicle for tuition.

This critical investment, in tandem with the strong collaborative relationships developed between RCC and GRETB, will enhance the potential of low-carbon educational initiatives to continue and expand into the future, fostering further innovation, driving the local economy, and fast-tracking progression to a carbon neutral society.

GRETB has a strong track record in further education and training delivery. To date, there have been over one hundred participants on the courses. The courses are set to continue running up to the end of March and address the needs of further participants.

Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland Peter Power said:

“The training courses represent an important investment in the people of the Midlands region. Skills development in low-carbon technologies will be key to Ireland’s green transition.

“Investments such as these ensures the Midlands will play a key role in this journey. This project epitomises the EU Just Transition Fund’s core objective, to support suitable place-based opportunities, in this case, re-engaging the skills and resources given by the peat-industry to local people, for the green transition of this and coming decades,” Mr. Power remarked.

Clare Bannon, Acting Director of EMRA, the Managing Authority for the EU Just Transition Fund programme, said:

“The Regional Assembly are delighted to attend today’s event and celebrate the impact that comes with bringing direct investment to local projects.

“The upskilling opportunities offered in the Wind Turbine and Electric Vehicle courses is empowering our workforce in the wider Midlands area and ensure the region remains at the forefront of Ireland’s green transition,” Ms. Bannon emphasised.

Further information on both courses can be found on www.fetchcourses.ie or by contacting a member of the recruitment team at admissions@gretb.ie/ 091 874500 or by contacting the Climate Action Department of Roscommon County Council by emailing climate@roscommoncoco.ie.

Reclaim the Economy Week 2026

It is Reclaim the Economy Week (26^th January – 1^st February 2026) and events are being held around the world to raise awareness and spark creative ideas about how to ensure that our economy serves us better. As the 21^st century unfolds, we are facing unprecedented challenges like climate change, wealth inequality, and the impact of advanced technologies on work. Reclaim the Economy encourages the exploration of emerging models of sustainable economic development that seek to respond to perceived limitations in the current economic system and propose solutions to today’s complex challenges.

To that end, a webinar was held on the 27^th of January 2026 to introduce key concepts in new economic thinking like the Wellbeing Economy, Doughnut Economics, Post-Growth, and the Care Economy. Organised by Feasta (Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability) and the Wellbeing Economy Alliance, the webinar opened with reflections on the current state our economic system from Mark Garavan of Feasta. He emphasised the “carelessness” embedded in our economy, from the disposability of single-use products that saturate our waste streams to the loss of human life in wars waged for resources. Our economic system has fostered “atomised individualism”, a state in which people are presumed to ruthlessly pursue their individual self-interest. We know, however, that humans are communal animals and that cooperation and care are key to our success as individuals, as communities, and as a species. This is where new economic ideas can fill in the picture, not only to more accurately reflect the reality of our human condition, but to better address our needs. Organised by Cultivate, Feasta (Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability) and the Wellbeing Economy Alliance, the webinar opened with reflections on the current state of our economic system from Mark Garavan of Feasta. Cultivate’s website is https://cultivate.ie

Garavan spoke of “care-full” economies as an alternative, in which the value of care is recognised and the health and wellbeing of people and planet are prioritised. The webinar featured a discussion of Doughnut Economics, a framework for thinking about economic development that respects both social and planetary boundaries. The main goal of an economy based on this model is to maintain a sustainable equilibrium that rests on a strong social foundation and respects the limits of the planet’s finite resources. The Wellbeing Economy was also discussed, a model focused on designing economic rules and incentives to ensure that everyone has enough to live in comfort, safety, and dignity. The Wellbeing Economy moves the focus from economic growth (GDP growth) to people-centred wellbeing (health, environmental regeneration, participation, fairness, purpose).

A lot of these new schools of thought on economic development are moving away from GDP-growth as the ultimate measure of a strong economy. The GDP-centric nature of our current economic system leaves out a lot of what is important to us as a society. Vanessa Conroy of the National Women’s Council presented a stark example during the webinar; women in Ireland collectively do 38 million hours of unpaid care work weekly, adding at least €24billion of value, or 12.3% of the total Irish economy. This shows the valuable contribution of this work to the economy but, despite that, it is largely invisible in the accounting of our current economic system.

Post-Growth, sometimes referred to as Degrowth, has been criticised for being anti-economic development, but this is a fundamental mischaracterisation of the concept. As Roisin Markham of the Irish Doughnut Economics Network outlined during the webinar, it’s not about being “anti-growth” but rather about not pursuing a narrow definition of economic growth at all costs – that other considerations for our flourishing as individuals and communities must be taken into account. It is the difference between “more” and “better.” The term degrowth comes from the French word décroissance, which means reduction or diminution. It is derived from the analogy of a river returning to its natural flow after a disastrous flood in which the water exceeds its bounds. Like other new economic models, Degrowth emphasises the need for our economy to roll back the damaging impact of over-consumption, to stay safely within our ecological limits.

In its 2023 Climate Change Assessment Synthesis Report, the EPA found that “fairer and more equal societies are more resilient to impacts (of climate change) and are more likely to adopt progressive transformative policies. Prioritisation of wellbeing and equity in development and climate policy could bolster the democratic social contract in support of transformation, including improved quality of life, decent work and the value of care.”

The novel challenges we face in the 21^st century will force transformation on us, one way or another. New approaches to economic policy are a key part of taking control of that transformation. With the right policies in place, we are better positioned to ensure a just transition for long-term human wellbeing. Business-as-usual risks exposing us to a future in which we are unprepared to deal with existential threats. This webinar was held as part of Feasta’s ongoing initiative to enhance economic literacy. This initiative encourages us to ask difficult questions about things we have taken for granted, assumptions we have accepted for decades. Have our policies for economic development been oriented towards the right goals? Does economic success require environmental harm? How can we have infinite economic growth on a planet with finite resources? New models of sustainable economic development frame answers to these questions with ambitious, creative, and transformative new thinking.

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Students sponsored by EMRA and EU Just Transition Fund visit the European Parliament

Students sponsored by EMRA and the EU Just Transition Fund recently joined students from across Ireland at the European Parliament representing their school and county.

As part of the communication and visibility strategy of EMRA and the EU Just Transition Fund, EMRA teamed up with Graduate.ie to sponsor 4 students from the Eastern and Midland Region to win a student trip to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. To be eligible for this prize, students must participate in a 20-week online student awareness competition, answering questions related to EMRA’s work and the EU Just Transition Fund.

In December 2025 the winners from the 2024 – 2025 competition went on their 3-day visit, during which they took part in a youth parliament (Euroscola) with students from across EU member states, had an opportunity to meet Irish MEPs and visited other places of educational interest.

Photo credit: Graduate.ie

Euroscola offers an immersive experience in the Chamber of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, allowing secondary school students to experience European parliamentary democracy. Students debate on topics such as Cyber Security and its impact on their daily lives, negotiate, amend, vote and adopt resolutions on current European issues, just like the MEPs. They also got to use the translation facilities which MEPs use to hear different speakers from various countries.

Since the launch of the project in 1990, hundreds of thousands of students have spent one day in the premises of the European Parliament, debating, discussing and exchanging views with colleagues in the form of a multilingual European Youth Parliament.

This is a very prestigious and much sought after prize and is hugely educational, giving students once in a lifetime experience, which they will never forget.

Students reported that the trip was an exceptional educational experience. MJ Finn, one of the participating students, noted that the trip deepened their “understanding of European democracy, enhanced [their] confidence in debate and discussion, and fostered greater cultural awareness. The combination of structured learning, cultural exploration and international interaction made the trip both educational and memorable” for all involved.

Martin Heneghan, Programme Coordinator with Graduate.ie stated that “We greatly acknowledge sponsorship by the Eastern & Midland Regional Assembly for their financial contribution to enable us to give students this unforgettable experience.”

Tóchar Wetland Restoration

Advancing Skills for a Low-Carbon Future in the Midlands

Reclaim the Economy Week 2026

CycleUp Textiles Skills

Watershed Fly Fishing

EV-WT Training Programme

Emily Square

Making Tracks

Poet’s Cottage

Students sponsored by EMRA and EU Just Transition Fund visit the European Parliament

Tóchar Wetland Restoration

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