The Association of Irish Regions (AIR), the representative body for the three Regional Assemblies, held its first seminar and training event on 7-9 February 2023.

Hosted at the Four Seasons Hotel in Monaghan, the event explored the role of regions in navigating present and future challenges and opportunities. The seminar and training event proved to be a great success and was a platform for regional perspectives for policy making, economic and spatial development and how the Regional Assemblies are a key delivery mechanism for strong regional development.

Over the three days, over 260 participants, including councillors and some local authority executive staff, engaged with and enjoyed discussions on enhanced regional planning, strong regional economic development, connected regions and EU affairs. There was representation from every local authority in Ireland at the event.

Fascinating and thought-provoking keynote addresses from entrepreneur Eddie O’Connor and journalist and environmentalist John Gibbons offered much food for thought for those in attendance. OECD Policy Analyst Michael Flood also addressed the event. Mr Flood is one of a larger contingent from the OECD and was on hand to launch a report on rethinking Ireland’s regional attractiveness.

Other speakers included Anne Graham, Chief Executive Officer with the National Transport Authority, Professor Niamh Moore-Cherry, Professor of Urban Governance and Development at University College Dublin, Niall Cussen, Chief Executive and Planning Regulator at the Office of the Planning Regulator, and Helen Healy, Head of Regional Policy at Ibec, along with many more.

There was also a half-day seminar on Thursday 9th February on emerging EU policy and funding opportunities that included presentations and 2 panel discussions with representatives from a range of EU Funding programmes.

Newstalk radio presenter Jonathan Healy served as MC for the event, which was sponsored by IPB Insurance and supported by the Southern Regional Assembly, Northern and Western Regional Assembly, and Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly.

The full programme and speakers can be found on the event website: irishregions.ie.

€169 million under the EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) will be invested in Ireland to support a fair transition to a climate neutral economy.

15th December 2022 – The European Commission has adopted Ireland’s Territorial Just Transition Plan and the associated Programme for the period of 2021-2027. Government approval for the Territorial Just Transition Plan and EU JTF Programme was secured on 29^th November 2022.

EMRA was appointed Managing Authority of this new Fund in December 2021 by The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. EMRA has been working alongside the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communication (DECC) to produce a comprehensive and integrated programme to deliver this Fund to the designated territory.

The EU JTF is a new Fund for the 2021-2027 EU programming period. It aims to address the negative impacts of the climate transition by supporting the most affected territories, workers and communities across Europe. In Ireland, the Fund will support the Midlands area (see EU JTF territory here) where commercial peat extraction has ended and peat-fired power generation is being wound down. The designation of the Territory was agreed by the Government of Ireland based on the recommendations of several evidence-based assessments.

Ireland’s allocation from the EU fund for the 2021-2027 period amounts to around €84.5 million. With co-financing from Exchequer resources, the total EU JTF Programme will amount to €169 million until 2027.

Following detailed engagement with key stakeholders, including public consultation, the EU JTF Programme will focus on three priorities:

• Generating employment for former peat communities by investing in the diversification of the local economy
• Supporting the restoration and rehabilitation of degraded peatlands and regeneration and repurposing of industrial heritage assets
• Providing former peat communities with smart and sustainable mobility options to enable them to benefit directly from the green transition

EMRA and DECC are currently working closely with programme partners to prepare the implementation phase of the Programme and start delivering on its objectives. A formal launch of the Programme is planned for 2023.

Read Minister Ryan’s Press Release

More information on the EU Just Transition Fund including a Frequently Asked Questions document can be found on EMRA’s dedicated page and on eufunds.ie/home/our-funds/just-transition-fund/