Category: EU JTF News - Page 2 - Eastern & Midland Regional Assembly

First tourism projects awarded €2.9million investment under Fáilte Ireland’s EU JTF Private and Community SME Scheme announced

First 17 projects announced have received almost €2.9million in funding under Fáilte Ireland’s Investment Grant-Aid Scheme for Private and Community SMEs.
Evaluations of remaining applications are ongoing with further funding awards to be announced on a rolling basis over the coming weeks and months.

Today [18th February 2025] Fáilte Ireland has announced the first 17 projects, worth almost €2.9million, that have been awarded funding under its Investment Grant-Aid Scheme for Private and Community SMEs.

Part of the EU Just Transition Fund programme, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, this marks the first announcement of successful projects under the Private and Community SME scheme, which closed on 13th January 2025 after receiving 170 applications. The 17 projects [listed below] represent the first to have signed Investment Grant Agreements with Fáilte Ireland, with more projects expected to be announced on a rolling basis in the coming weeks and months, as evaluations of applications are completed.

Projects span four regenerative tourism development categories, including the Development or Enhancement of Sustainable Visitor Experiences; Development of Sustainable/Low Carbon Tourist Accommodation; Capital Project Planning and Design; and Accessibility enhancements to provide a more inclusive visitor experience.

CEO of Fáilte Ireland, Paul Kelly said:

“When Fáilte Ireland launched this scheme in August 2023, our aim was to create new opportunities for local communities and businesses across the midlands – and today’s announcement is a huge milestone in this journey.

These 17 projects will provide innovative and sustainable visitor experiences and develop low-carbon tourist accommodation, and I look forward to further announcements of successful projects in the coming weeks and months, as we continue to evaluate the significant number of applications we received.

Initiatives like the EU Just Transition Fund are essential for generating new opportunities for employment and sustaining local communities by creating more reasons for domestic and international tourists to visit Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Ireland’s Ancient East.

We also look forward to further collaboration with local tourism businesses and communities, the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) and our strategic partners to deliver a wide range of projects under the EU Just Transition Fund Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme over the next year and a half.”

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

“As the Managing Authority of the EU Just Transition Fund programme, the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) welcomes the announcement of these private and community SME projects. The EU Just Transition Fund is a transformative concept for communities in the Midlands, and these 17 projects highlight the significant opportunities arising from investment in tourism. By investing in tourism, we not only create more recreational activities but also contribute to the preservation of environmental quality, fostering sustainable growth and prosperity for our community.”

There has been significant interest in the Private and Community SME scheme, with a high volume of applications received. Fully completed applications are being evaluated in the order of receipt. Fáilte Ireland will communicate with applicants once their application has been evaluated.

Up to 70 tourism enterprises, spread across all eight counties in the EU Just Transition Territory**, are also participating in the Digital Transformation programme element of the scheme, valued at up to €4.8million. This funding enables these enterprises to participate in a two-year programme which will transform their digital presence and digital capabilities.

PROJECTS DETAILS

[Descriptions of all categories noted below]

Location	Category (1/2/3/5)*	Funding
Westmeath	CATEGORY 2 Design and planning for accommodation chalets.	€48,400
Longford	CATEGORY 1 Enhanced bicycles and equipment to provide an accessible and inclusive visitor experience.	€135,200
Laois	CATEGORY 2 Glamping and wagon accommodation experience.	€250,000
Longford	CATEGORY 1 Inclusive visitor experience in Clondara area with increased tour options and routes and enhanced fleet of bicycles and equipment.	€25,776
Offaly	CATEGORY 3 Planning and design to redevelop and repurpose farm outbuildings into low carbon self-catering accommodation including ecological restoration and planting native flora and fauna.	€13,474
Offaly	CATEGORY 1 Develop fly fishing tours on the River Shannon.	€41,520
Tipperary	CATEGORY 1 Enhanced bicycles and equipment to provide an accessible and inclusive visitor experience.	€ 47,200
Galway	CATEGORY 3 A feasibility study to develop a cookery school with dorm style accommodation outdoor glamping pods, campervan pitches, a petting farm and wellness space.	€57,600
Offaly	CATEGORY 1 Increase the variety of the stock of bikes available to create a more inclusive visitor experience.	€168,000
Tipperary	CATEGORY 2 Redevelopment of outhouses into self-catering accommodation units and facilities for glamping tents.	€300,000
Roscommon	CATEGORY 2 Conversion of a 19th Century Schoolhouse into modern guest accommodation.	€275,000
Longford	CATEGORY 2 Development of eco cabins with accompanying works to surrounding area.	€300,000
Longford	CATEGORY 2 Delivery of self-catering accommodation to include one cottage and two glamping pods.	€300,000
Westmeath	CATEGORY 2 Conversion of disused buildings into self-catering cottages	€300,000
Laois	CATEGORY 2 Delivery of luxury eco glamping huts, including a wheelchair accessible hut	€300,000
Longford	CATEGORY 1 Enhanced boat and boating equipment to facilitate on-water guided tours.	€37,000
Longford	CATEGORY 2 Conversion of store room building into guest accommodation.	€300,000

Project categories

Under the Investment Grant-Aid Scheme for Private & Community SMEs there are five project categories that are being considered for funding:

Category 1 – Development or Enhancement of Sustainable Visitor Experiences
Category 2 – Development of Sustainable Tourist Accommodation
Category 3 – Capital Project Planning & Design
Category 4 – Digital Transformation
Category 5 – Accessibility enhancements to provide a more inclusive visitor experience.

Certificate ceremony for the first Wind Turbine training course on 9 February 2025, Roscommon

EUJTF-funded First Local Wind Turbine Course a Major Success

Last Sunday (February 9th) marked a momentous day in promoting local environmental awareness when ten participants graduated from a new innovative self-build Wind Turbine course, organised jointly by Roscommon County Council’s Climate Action Team in conjunction with Galway and Roscommon Education Training Board (GRETB).

first EUJTF funded wind turbine course graduation ceremony

Participants of the Wind Turbine training course receive certificates of completion on 9 February 2025.

This inaugural programme which ran over 4 separate weekends during December 2024 and January 2025 in the GRETB’s centre in Lisnamult, Roscommon. A further course is scheduled to start in March at a date to be confirmed.

Participants learned to build a domestic wind turbine from scratch using the Hug Piggott turbine design. These models are considered ideal for those interested in building their own wind turbine or just for the pleasure of it, learning a wide range of range of related skills such as basic woodwork, electrical and metalwork.

Training provided has been divided between the aforementioned self-build wind turbine courses and other EV repair and maintenance courses. This first wind turbine course has helped raise levels resilience to impacts resulting from climate change for the participants and set them on the road to a potential career in the renewables industry.

The programme was funded through the Just Transition Fund programme, co-financed through Government of Ireland and European Union resources, with the aim to run regular training courses like this wind turbine course in partnership with GRETB until the end of March 2026.

Speaking following the presentation ceremony, Barry Tapster, Climate Action Officer with Roscommon County Council remarked:

“This new Wind Turbine course has been an invaluable learning exercise for participants.

“Practical, hands-on training and support has been given as to how one can develop and operate their own wind turbine in a manner that’s cost effective, safe and environmentally friendly and sustainable.

“None of us were immune from the recent effects of Storm Éowyn, which resulted in widespread power outages. The success of this course demonstrates the needs for greater understanding and awareness of harnessing alternative sources of energy”, Mr. Tapster remarked.

Wind turbine building training course, Roscommon 2025

Training course participants constructing parts of a wood wind turbine. Photo by eirbyte.ie

Sinead Morgan, Director of Further Education and Training, GRETB commended

“All involved in the creation and delivery of this programme which demonstrates GRETB’s commitment to providing training to develop the green, circular and low-carbon economy to support innovation and skills development.”

For further information, please contact Roscommon County Council at climate@roscommoncoco.ie .

Tenders sought to shape the future of Pollardstown Fen in Kildare

Tóchar Midlands Wetlands Restoration is seeking a multi-disciplinary team to create a restoration plan for the most important calcareous fen in Ireland, Pollardstown Fen in Co. Kildare.

The call for tenders for scientific, ecological and hydrological services for the restoration plan has a closing date of Monday 17 February 2025, and is available on etenders.

https://www.etenders.gov.ie/epps/cft/prepareViewCfTWS.do?resourceId=4930730

The aim of this project is to set out proposals for restoration of fen and associated habitats at Pollardstown Fen SAC (0000396), to implement these measures and to monitor their effectiveness. The restoration plan will identify technically feasible restoration measures for the various zones of the site including the fen habitats, Rathbride woodland, and surrounding wetland margins. The site is primarily in state ownership.

Unlike a bog, fens are fed mainly by springs, and in this case calcareous (calcium rich) water flowing in from over 40 springs emanating from the Curragh sand and gravel aquifer. This creates a unique environment, providing specialist species a place to call home in a landscape where they would otherwise fail to gain a foothold. Although the focus of the restoration plan is on fen habitats, it is anticipated that restoration measures will also benefit other wetland habitats, important species and contribute to socioeconomic benefits for the local community, improvements to biodiversity and reduced carbon emissions.

The restoration plan is supported through the EU Just Transition fund which is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union. Tóchar Midlands Wetlands Restoration is led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The managing authority for the EU Just Transition fund is the Eastern and Midlands Regional Authority (EMRA).

More information about the overall scheme can be found here www.tocharwetlands.ie
ENDS

FURTHER INFORMATION
Project Manager, Tóchar Midlands Wetlands Restoration, shirley.clerkin@npws.gov.ie

Graphic stating "JTPeers to Facilitate 5 new exchanges, benefitting 10 JTF territories" and showing that Ireland will be engaging with Finland

Tóchar Project Embarks on Peer-Exchange with Finland in 2025

In an exciting collaboration, Tóchar Midlands Wetland Restoration – an EU Just Transition Funded project run by NPWS – will engage with a Just Transition territory in Finland in 2025, exchanging knowledge and best practices for restoring peatlands in areas transitioning away from peat extraction. This initiative is part of the European Commission’s Just Transition Platform peer-exchange programme.

The journey began with a conversation at the Just Transition Platform conference in Brussels earlier this year, where Irish and Finnish representatives discussed common challenges and opportunities for communities and landowners. These discussions inspired the successful application to the peer-exchange programme.

Planning for the exchange is underway, with a strong focus on involving as many Irish stakeholders as possible. Finnish participants will include representatives from South and Central Ostrobothnia and the subregion of Kaustinen, home to many peatlands in Finland’s Just Transition region. The delegation will also feature regional councils, university researchers, and members of Finland’s sustainable peatland use competence cluster.

A fascinating connection exists between Finland’s landscape and culture. The Finnish word for Finland, Suomi, shares its root with suo, meaning swamp or mire, a fitting reflection for a country where one-third of the land is covered by mires and peat. Kaustinen, renowned for its raised bogs, mires, and vibrant cultural heritage, is also famous for its fiddle music and folk festival, with the region’s music inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Recognising the deep bond between culture and nature, Tóchar is committed to exploring how cultural identity influences our relationship with peatlands and wetlands. The team eagerly anticipates building this cultural and environmental partnership with Finland throughout the coming year.

Photo from event called "Green Futures, Sustainable Innovation in the Midlands" showing a group of men and women holding a sign that says #EUinmyRegion

Midlands Lead the Way: EUJTF Projects Showcase Sustainable Innovations

Eastern & Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA), in collaboration with Technological University Shannon (TUS), Midlands Campus in Athlone today brought together on Wednesday 4 December 2024 five key projects funded by the EU Just Transition Fund (EU JTF) who are driving innovation in carbon neutrality and transforming the Midlands region for a panel discussion, dubbed “Green Futures, Sustainable Innovation in the Midlands”.

The EU JTF aims to support the most negatively impacted regions and communities across Europe that are affected by the transition to climate neutrality by providing funding to enable sustainable innovation across the region. In Ireland the EU JTF programme focuses on the wider Midlands area, and is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.

Welcoming attendees to the event included Lorna Walsh, Director of Research Support Services at TUS Midlands, Stéphanie Gantzer-Houzel, representative from DG REGIO (Department for regional and urban policy) of the European Commission, and Terry Connolly, Programme Manager of the EU Just Transition Fund in EMRA.

A panel of five projects then were invited to share their experiences so far and how the projects will impact the region.

The five projects and speakers who participated in the panel moderated by Bernie Roe, Assistant Director, EU Just Transition Fund and Corporate in EMRA, included:

Brendan Flanagan, Founder of Ethical Tours and EU JTF beneficiary, who shared insights on sustainable tourism.
Jennifer Payne, Business Development Manager, CycleUp Textiles, who discussed the circular economy practices and community empowerment through textile upcycling.
Stephen Napier, CEO of Irish Bioeconomy Foundation, who explored the innovations in sustainable biotechnologies.
Professor Neil Rowan, Lead Principal Investigator, Mount Lucas Circular Bioeconomy Aquaculture Initiative, who presented advancements in circular aquaculture.
Carmel Halligan, ReSHAPE, Programme Manager, highlighting TUS’s role in skills development for a low-carbon economy.

Commenting on the event, EMRA Programme Manager, Terry Connolly, said:

“The EU Just Transition is a transformative concept for communities in the Midlands, harnessing our abilities in sustainable innovation and economic transformation. Today’s event showcased how these projects are not only addressing climate neutrality but also creating meaningful opportunities for individuals, businesses, and local communities to thrive in a greener future.”

Director of Research Support Services, TUS Midlands, Lorna Walsh, added

“TUS Midlands are honoured to play host to today’s panel which showcases the very best of what the Midlands has to offer in driving sustainable innovations across Ireland. Becoming carbon neutral is a tremendous task, and the collective efforts as demonstrated by our panelists and the EU JTF programme today are playing their role in future-proofing Ireland’s economy. At TUS, we are proud to support initiatives that align education, research, and enterprise to advance sustainability and build resilient communities in the Midlands.”

Stéphanie Gantzer-Houzel, programme manager for the EU Just Transition Fund in Ireland at DG REGIO, European Commission, also added:

“I was happy for the opportunity to contribute to today’s event on the EU Just Transition Fund and to hear from projects that showcase what the fund is all about. The EU JTF represents our commitment to supporting the Midlands area in transitioning away from peat for electricity generation. Thanks to the fund, new jobs are being created in green sectors such as sustainable tourism and the bioeconomy, contributing to the economic diversification of the Midlands area. It is an opportunity for everyone who wants to contribute to a greener and stronger Midlands, and I encourage potential beneficiaries to take advantage of this opportunity.”

To learn more about the EU Just Transition Fund, read here.

Photo of a meeting room at the Procurement Training on below EU threshold procurements

Procurement training for below EU thresholds for EUJTF beneficiaries

The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly organised training on Below EU Threshold Procurement for beneficiaries of the EU Just Transition Fund in Ireland. A video of the training can be seen on this page.

Bus Operator Aid Scheme

Closing date: 31st January 2025

Two Midlands Bioeconomy projects awarded €10 million in EU JTF funding

The Irish government and the EU have announced €10 million in funding from the EU Just Transition Fund for two bioeconomy demonstration projects aimed at fostering innovation and sustainability in the Midlands region.

The two awards of €5 million each will support Bioeconomy piloting and demonstration projects in the wider midlands region. The projects will be located at Mount Lucas in Co. Offaly and the National Bioeconomy Campus in Lisheen, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. They aim to create innovation hubs for developing new bio-based products to replace fossil-based ones.

The first project Lisheen Bioeconomy Scaleup Initiative (BioScaleUP), led by Tipperary County Council, will demonstrate six innovative biotechnologies at the national multipurpose bioeconomy pilot biorefinery facility at the National Bioeconomy Campus, Lisheen Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Operating up to Technology readiness level (TRL) 7, the facility will function as a platform for the collaboration between research performing organisations (RPOs) through the BiOrbic Bioeconomy Research Centre, SMEs, and large industry for biorefinery and biomanufacturing. The project will enable the conversion of renewable biobased feedstocks into biobased chemicals, materials, food ingredients, biofuels and other bioproducts.

The second project Mount Lucas Circular Bioeconomy Aquaculture Demonstration Initiative (Circular IMTA) will harness the use of a novel recirculating, peatland-based, integrated-multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) site at Mount Lucas. It will demonstrate the development of biobased value-chains and products for new feeds and foods from cultivated-duckweed and macroalgae at scale that use fish waste stream as biobased fertilizers to cultivate the duckweed and macroalgae.

Commenting on the two newly funded initiatives, Minister McConalogue stated:

“The bioeconomy has the potential to improve the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of the agri-food sector through offering diversification opportunities, through the development of new products, business models and value chains, and reducing the use of non-sustainable inputs in all economic sectors including in the agri-food sector. I am delighted to announce this €10 million investment in two innovative bioeconomy projects as part of Irelands implementation of the EU Just Transition Fund.”

Clare Bannon, Acting Director of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA), the Managing Authority for Ireland’s EU Just Transition Fund Programme, said:

“I welcome the announcement today of the projects that will receive funding through the Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative under the EU Just Transition Fund (EU JTF). It is another significant milestone for the EU JTF Programme as this initiative is the first of its kind in Ireland in its approach to pilot and demonstrate the bioeconomy in action. The selected projects highlight the ingenuity and locally conceived ideas that have the potential to make a lasting impact on the wider Midland region. We also extend our gratitude to all the applicants for their submissions, which have shown dedication to the opportunity that exists in the region.”

Read full press release on gov.ie.

Launch of EU JTF Midlands Pathway to Just Transition Project

A €3.9 million project to boost economic growth in Ireland’s Midlands was launched at the Cube in Portlaoise on 4th October 2024. The Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan, Pathway for Just Transition, aims to support Longford, Laois, Offaly, and Westmeath. It was launched by Ministers Eamon Ryan and Peter Burke. The project is co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Union by the EU Just Transition Fund.

Under the scheme a series of actions will be implemented to support the regions economy in five distinct areas:

Midlands Pathway to Transition – supporting the transition to a net zero economy
Delivering the Midlands Advanced Manufacturing Action Plan
Delivering the Midlands ICT Action Plan
Delivering the Midlands Ireland Placemaking Programme
Delivering the Midlands Ireland Regional Food and Drink Strategy

In addition to supporting economic development this Midlands Pathway Plan places a heavy emphasis on education and future skills. There will be an expansion of award-winning regional STEM education programmes, such as Dream Space and VEX Robotics, to over 280 primary and secondary schools across the region. The programme will also support investment in digitalisation and equipment for schools.

Appropriate resourcing will be assigned to ensure the delivery of action plans that have been developed to support the growth of the key enterprise sectors of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, ICT and Food and Drink. In addition, the development of career pathways aims to provide people with upskilling and reskilling opportunities, such as in the area of ICT, where a regional skill survey identifies approximately 800 job openings in the next three years.

Speaking at the launch, Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications said

“A just transition is all about ensuring that the benefits and opportunities of the transition to a green economy are shared widely and equally. The purpose of the Just Transition Fund is to help communities not only move towards a new green future, but to ensure that they thrive, that they are great places to live and work and that they have a strong economic path and future. This Enterprise Plan is about hooking into the ingenuity, drive and innovation that is here in the Midlands and turning it into a vibrant economic region that will deliver real improvements for people right across the four counties while also supporting ongoing decarbonisation.”

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, Cathaoirleach of the Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly, said

“The launching of the Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan Pathway for Just Transition project is an important occasion for not just the EU Just Transition Fund programme but also for the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, having been instrumental in the inception of the EUJTF Local and Regional Economic Strategies Support Scheme. It is a testament to the Regional Assembly, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and Pobal’s commitment to supporting local ideas and innovations for navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by the transition to a climate-neutral economy. This project shows how a regional approach can amplify impacts and we are looking forward to following its progress.”

The project will have a transformative impact on the employment base within the region. The project proposes generating employment, including the provision of ‘Just Transition Officers’, appointed at Local Authority level in Offaly, Longford, Westmeath and Laois. These Officers will seek to directly support impacted communities and facilitate collaboration across Just Transition projects with their technical expertise. They will support and empower those who seek alternative employment and community opportunities, demonstrating the strong commitment of local Authorities in supporting communities across the core EU JTF territory.

2nd intake of the EU JTF Tourism Learning Network Programme

Second intake of the Tourism Learning Network.
Closing date 12 Noon 17 October 2024