EU Just Transition Fund Open Call:
Contact EMRA
Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly
3rd Floor North, Ballymun Civic Centre
Main Street, Ballymun
Dublin 9, D09 C8P5
Ireland
+353 (0) 1 8074482
With this new funding call, the EUJTF programme is bringing support to the climate transition and overall resilience of the Just Transition territory by supporting local projects that contribute to the environmental and social development of the region. This scheme funds implementation of projects that align with the JTF objectives and with Local Authority Climate Action Plans (LACAPs) from the Territory.
This action will therefore contribute to the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change in the EU JTF territory while responding to the specific social challenges of the local communities.
The scheme supports high-impact infrastructure projects (strand 1) and feasibility studies / assessments (strand 2) in the EUJTF Territory that directly help deliver Local Authority Climate Action Plans. Projects should align with one or more of the following categories:
- Investments in energy efficiency
- Land regeneration and rehabilitation
- Smart and sustainable local mobility solutions
- Circular economy or bioeconomy
- Infrastructure with a social objective
More details about the above categories can be found on Pobal’s page for the call: www.pobal.ie/programmes/eujtf-start
Read more about this call and other Government supports to Climate Action Plans in this Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment press release.
Call start and end dates:
Expression of Interest (EOI) process is open from 12th February 2026 to 13th March 2026. Feedback will be given on EOIs between 16 March and 24 April.
Official Application opens: 21st April 2026
Closing date for Infrastructure projects (Strand 1): 2nd June 2026
Closing date for feasibility studies projects (Strand 2): 30th June 2026
All projects must be delivered between October 2026 and March 2028
Geographical area covered:
EU Just Transition Fund territory. This includes the entire counties of Laois, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath, and municipal districts of Ballinasloe (Co. Galway), Athy and Clane-Maynooth (Co. Kildare), and Carrick-on-Suir and Thurles (Co. Tipperary).
Policy objective:
This scheme falls under the EU JTF programme Priority 4: Enabling a resilient and sustainable climate transition of the Territory. The specific operation concerned is Action 4.1 Supporting a Sustainable Transition through climate Action for a Resilient Territory (START).
Co-funded by the Government of Ireland and European Union, the EU Just Transition Fund has a single specific objective, which is to enable regions and people to address the social employment, economic and environmental impacts of the transition towards the Union’s 2030 targets for energy and climate and a climate-neutral economy of the Union by 2050, based on the Paris Agreement.
Eligible applicants:
The EU JTF START Scheme is a closed funding call for the Local Authorities (LAs) within the EU Just Transition Territory in Ireland as outlined above.
Local Authorities may partner with local community groups, NGOs, or other organisations in the delivery of projects, but the Local Authority must be the lead partner and will be accountable for any approved projects.
The following types of organisations or individuals are ineligible as Local Authority partners:
- Private companies
- Publicly Limited Companies
- Private Individuals
- Sole Traders
- Government Departments
- Unincorporated businesses
Project Categories:
Projects should align with one or more of the following categories:
- Investments in the field of energy covering:
- energy efficiency targeting specifically energy upgrades and retrofit activities for public and community buildings with a clear social function.
- renewable energy production for public and community buildings with a clear social function.
- development of community energy schemes.
- development and implementation of activities contained within the Energy Master Plans in the Territory (these plans are comprehensive strategies that assess a community’s energy usage and create a roadmap to lower carbon emissions through energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, and behavioural change).
- Regeneration and rehabilitation of land that has been contaminated and damaged in order to:
- restore wildlife, biodiversity, habitats and waterway
- be reused for the community in activities consistent with the objectives of the Fund such as but not limited to job creation, training, green infrastructure, green areas and community amenities
- Smart and sustainable local mobility solutions and active travel measures, including but not limited to cycle lanes, footpath extensions, first mile and last mile hubs.
- Development of nascent climate-friendly economic areas such as the circular economy or the bioeconomy in the Territory.
- Infrastructures with a social objective, notably the upgrade and development of facilities serving an educational, social inclusion, or job seeking support role within the Territory.
Total amount of support: €30 million
Up to €30 million is available under this scheme.
Strand 1 – Infrastructure Projects: €200,000 – €5 million
Strand 2 – Feasibility Studies: €100,000 – €300,000
Call start and end dates:
Expression of Interest (EOI) – 12th February – 13th March
Applicants may submit brief project outlines to confirm eligibility, alignment with call objectives and overall project readiness. Pobal will review EOIs and provide feedback to support official applications. This is optional and not a decision-making stage for funding.
Full application:
- Strand 1 – Infrastructure Projects: 21st April – 2nd June
- Strand 2 – Feasibility Projects: 21st April – 30th June
Applicants develop a detailed proposal, including workplan, budget and results framework, building on feedback received during EOI stage.
All Expressions of Interest and full Applications must be submitted via the MyPobal portal.
Application Process:
Application Process:
All potential applicant organisations must register as Primary Authorised User (PAU) on the MyPobal Portal in order to download and submit the official Application Form and other supporting documents.
- Stage 1 – Expression of Interest (EOI): Applicants may submit a brief project outline confirming project eligibility, alignment with call objectives and overall project readiness. Pobal will review all EOIs and provide feedback. This is optional and not a decision-making stage for funding. Window for submission of EOIs is 12th February – 13th March via My Pobal.
- Stage 2 – Full Application: Applicants develop a detailed proposal, including workplan, budget and Results Framework, building on the feedback received during the EoI stage. Submission of applications is via My Pobal and the window for submission of Applications is;
- 21st April – 2nd June (Strand 1 Infrastructure Projects)
- 21st April – 30th June (Strand 2 Feasibility Projects)
Full details are available in the Application Guidelines on Pobal’s website: www.pobal.ie/programmes/eujtf-start
Further information:
A series of workshops and support events will be held to assist applicants in making their applications.
- Online Webinar – Launch & Overview: 17th February 2026, 10am
- In-person Scheme Information event: 24th February 2026, full-day event, location TBC
- Support Webinar – Q&A: 3rd March 2026
- Support Webinar – State Aid: TBC
- In-Person Application Guidance Workshops: 22nd April – 30th April 2026 (tentative), full-day event, location TBC
- Application Support Webinar – Q&A: TBC
For list of events and to register to attend, check out the information on the Pobal website: www.pobal.ie/programmes/eujtf-start
If you have any questions about the call, email onlinesupport@pobal.ie or call Pobal support at 01 511 7222.