€6 million of Community Support Funding announced for projects in the Midlands

• Funding will go community-led projects in the Midlands – under the EU Just Transition Fund Programme

Minister Darragh O’Brien has announced the award of almost €6 million of Community Support Funding to 10 community-led projects in the Midlands under the EU Just Transition Fund Programme.

The projects were awarded through a third competitive call for proposals in the Local and Regional Economic Strategies Support Scheme (LRESSS). LRESSS is co-funded by the government and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund programme.

This call was aimed at funding Local Economic and Community Plans to provide new employment opportunities, for workers and communities that were heavily dependent on peat extraction. It provides targeted support to projects that will boost resilience of communities and the economic fabric of the wider Midlands.

The projects approved for funding will deliver significant benefits to the region, including:

• investments in enhancing the circular economy, such as through waste prevention, reduction, resource efficiency, reuse, repair and recycling
• the preservation, repurposing and refurbishment of local infrastructure and heritage assets – for use as enterprise spaces
• support to green technologies, including renewable energy and sustainable energy practices

This notice comes just a few days after the announcement of another group of 17 projects that have successfully received funding from the EU Just Transition Fund programme, within Fáilte Ireland’s Investment Grant-Aid Scheme for Private and Community SMEs. Today’s announcement means that there are now over 80 projects that have received funding from the various schemes under the EU Just Transition programme.

The Local and Regional Economic Strategies Support Scheme (LRESSS) was developed through close collaboration between the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) as the Managing Authority for the EU Just Transition Fund. It is administered through Pobal. It seeks to support the implementation of bottom-up local and regional strategies.

Commenting on the projects approved for funding, Minister O’Brien said:

“This call has been targeted at the people and communities most effected by the cessation of peat extraction in the Midlands. The selected projects represent an important part of the journey to a lower carbon-future which is fair for all. I look forward to witnessing the benefits to the social fabric, economy and environment that these initiatives will provide.”

Clare Bannon, Acting Director of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA), said:

“EMRA is delighted to see the fund supporting these projects under the Local and Regional Economic Strategies Support Scheme. These projects, in conjunction with others supported by the EU Just Transition Fund programme, play a crucial role in driving locally-led regional development and building a stronger, more sustainable future for the communities in the Midlands. We are proud to be able to support these unique project ideas that demonstrate the ingenuity that exists in the communities in the Midlands.”

Project	Lead Organisation	Project Description	County	Approved Funding Amount *
Longford Enterprise and Energy Centre	Longford County Council	Under this project, the historical former post office building in Longford town will be refurbished to serve several uses, including setting up co-working spaces, the county tourism office and public event spaces.	Longford	€793,822
The Dalton Centre – Enabling the Transition to Net Zero	Offaly County Council	Under this project, the vacant industrial building of Dalton Centre in Shannonbridge will be upgraded through the provision of basic services so that it can be used for training or job creation in construction and renewable energy sectors.	Offaly	€1,000,000
Kildare’s Green Upskilling Programme	County Kildare Leader Partnership Company Limited by Guarantee	Under this project, a bespoke training programme focused on low-carbon, circular economy practices are being delivered to marginalised individuals in Athy and Clane-Maynooth with low education and limited employment opportunities.	Kildare	€709,314
GreenSkills Reboot: Empowering the transition to a sustainable future through skills bootcamps	Generation: You Employed, Ireland Company Limited By Guarantee	Under this project, four green skills bootcamps are being delivered in the Midlands that focus on Solar PV Panel Installation and Retrofit Advisory.	Meath**	€235,448
RegenTEC – Regeneration Training and Education Centre	Kildare County Council	Under this project, a vacant former secondary school in Athy is being developed into a hub for Regenerative Economic Development. The hub will be used for training and educational activities on sustainable and a low carbon economy.	Kildare	€998,802
Development of Canal Road Business Park, Portarlington	Laois County Council	Under this project, capital works will be undertaken on the former Avon site at Canal Road, Portarlington to upgrade it to a business park and to attract enterprises.	Laois	€999,963
Wetlands Wastewater treatment plant	Allenwood Community Development Association Company Limited by Guarantee	Under the project, a new wastewater treatment plant will be constructed to ensure operational continuity and sustainability of the Allenwood Community Development Association. The overall wetlands treatment system will also create green spaces and wildlife habitats	Kildare	€287,653
Glas don Saol	The County Kildare Local Employment Service Network Company Limited by Guarantee	Under this project, 300 people in Athy and Clane-Maynooth will be assisted to identify their skills and interests and develop a career path within the green economy through the provision of a high-quality Career Guidance service.	Kildare	€299,491
Kilcormac Sustainable Development Project	Kilcormac Development Association	Under this project, a new tourist office will be developed in Offaly to serve as an ecotourism hub with EV charging points and bicycle repair services.	Offaly	€231,787.68
Ballinasloe Enterprise Hub: Empowering Local Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Employment	Ballinasloe Area Community Development	Under this project, the recently renovated office space of the Ballinasloe Enterprise Hub will be operationalised by resourcing it with staff and equipment. The Hub will focus on the development of business in key sectors such as digital services, healthcare, MedTech and climate change by highlighting its offerings and providing high quality networking events and training sessions	Galway	€263,479

 

*subject to grant agreement

** Generation: You Employed is based in Meath, however, the project is being delivered in the Midlands Designated Territory