QGasSP
Delivering a method for quantifying and forecasting the relative GHG impacts of alternative spatial planning policies, with pan-European applicability.
Delivering a method for quantifying and forecasting the relative GHG impacts of alternative spatial planning policies, with pan-European applicability.
PROGRESS is an interregional co-operation project which aims to initiate a process of policy change for maintaining nature’s biodiversity, goods and services.
The Midlands region and beyond was well represented at two EU Just Transition Fund and Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative information events which took place in The CUBE Low Carbon Centre of Excellence in Portlaoise, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, on Tuesday, 4th July.
An overview of the EU Just Transition Fund and a look at potential suitable projects was provided by Bernie Roe and Terence Connolly from the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA). EMRA has been appointed the Managing Authority for the EU Just Transition Fund and is responsible for managing and providing information on the programme, assisting in the selection of eligible projects, and monitoring implementation.
Presenting at the DAFM Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative information session, L-R: Patrick Barrett, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Bernie Roe, Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly; and Caroline Hofman, Managing Director of The CUBE.
The EU Just Transition Fund (EU JTF) is a new funding programme created to help communities across Europe that are experiencing negative impacts from the transition to climate neutrality to meet the challenges posted by this transition. Co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, up to €169 million will be available over the duration of the fund to support the diversification of local economies and the creation of new opportunities that complement the assets of the designated Territory, along with related activities.
Patrick Barrett, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, delivering a detailed presentation on the Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme and the opportunities for the Midlands region and Ireland
The EU JTF in Ireland will support the areas in the wider Midlands where communities have been negatively affected by the closure of peat production and peat-fired energy generation facilities. The designated territory for this fund includes the counties of Laois, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath, and the municipal districts of Ballinasloe (Co. Galway), Athy and Clane-Maynooth (Co. Kildare), and Carrick-on-Suir and Thurles (Co. Tipperary).
Patrick Barrett, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, delivering a detailed presentation on the Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme and the opportunities for the Midlands region and Ireland.
Patrick Barrett, Agricultural Inspector, Research Division for Bioeconomy, Agriculture Knowledge and Innovation Systems with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, provided a detailed overview of the Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative, one of the schemes under the EU Just Transition Fund. He also provided key information for prospective applicants, including project scope and requirements.
The EU Just Transition Fund Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme has an indicative budget of €10 million in 2023 and €10 million in 2024. The official launch for submissions from eligible applicants is due to be announced in August 2023.
Patrick Barrett, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, speaking after the event said:
“The Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme can fund the development of ‘Bioeconomy Districts’, ‘Living Labs’ and ‘Pilot & Demonstration Innovation Actions’ to support circular bioeconomy value chain development within the Region.
The purpose of the scheme is to advance a competitive bioeconomy for a sustainable future and to develop the Just Transition Fund Territory in Ireland to become an exemplar of such development.”
Caroline Hofman, Managing Director of The CUBE, added:
“We were delighted to host these two information events in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Originally we were due to hold one session, but due to demand we held an additional session in the afternoon. This shows the significant appetite for the EU Just Transition Fund opportunities for the Midlands Region and other areas within the appointed territory.
I would encourage any business or organisation with a project in mind related to the Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative or in any other area relevant to the EU Just Transition Fund to get in touch with EMRA directly or contact The CUBE. Here at The CUBE, we can also assist you in finding relevant funding or grant opportunities for your business, community group, or organisation.”
For more information about the EU Just Transition Fund, visit https://emra.ie/eu-jtf/ or e-mail eujtf@emra.ie.
You are also invited to take part in a short EU survey for JTF stakeholders which can be completed at https://tinyurl.com/787s9w7u
ORIGINN is an Interreg Europe project to promote the economic and social transformation of rural areas through innovation, with a particular focus on the agri-food sector.
On 6 February 2023 the Just Transition Platform (JTP) launched a call for applications for a new and targeted technical assistance called JTP GROUNDWORK. It will support eligible Just Transition Fund (JTF) regions in implementing their Territorial Just Transition Plans (TJTP).
As the implementation phase of the EU Just Transition Fund starts, the European Commission is rolling out new supports during 2023 which include technical assistance on the ground, knowledge products and case studies, an expert database and a peer-to-peer exchange programme for practitioners. This will enable eligible territories to effectively implement their Just Transition Territorial Plans.
This call is an initiative managed by the European Commission’s Just Transition Platform, and not through EMRA. Queries about the call should be directed to jtpgroundwork@justtransitionplatform.eu.
The European Commission will provide eligible regions with tailored capacity-building and advisory support. Examples of potential services are:
A core principle of this service is co-creating solutions with recipients to increase ownership and develop long-term capacity. Once selected by the Commission, beneficiaries will jointly develop the scope and type of technical assistance services. Support will be delivered through a mix of face-to-face and online meetings, workshops etc. A specific event will be organised per selected applicant.
All call for application details can be found on the Commission’s website.
DEADLINE for applications: 28 February 2023 at 23:00 CET.
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.
There will be an information session on the #Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme. The scheme is administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as part of the new EU Just Transition Fund. See details about the content of the event below!
DATE: Tuesday, 4th July 2023
TIME: 11am – 1pm
VENUE: The CUBE, 18 Church Street, Portlaoise, Co. Laois R32 TP89
Space is limited. Please reserve your place: www.eventbrite.ie/e/eu-just-transition-fund-bioeconomy-demonstration-initiative-scheme-tickets-665210190587
As Ireland moves towards a low-carbon economy, the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine will deliver the Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme as part of the EU Just Transition Fund. Through this scheme, we’ll develop bioeconomy piloting and demonstration projects across the Midlands – scaling up biobased innovation and solutions, developing new green jobs, businesses and communities.
The fund will support the transition of the Just Transition Fund Territory to a sustainable and circular biobased region through funding of sustainable bioeconomy projects that are designed to have significant climate positive and regenerative impacts on local communities including our peatlands. The fund will be used to create a biobased local society and economy.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine intends to launch the Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme in July 2023. Further information on details of the scheme and how to apply will be outlined at the event.
The designated territory under the Plan and Programme 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).
Please share this event and information on this scheme with your colleagues.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have also released a survey for EU Just Transition Stakeholders. You can take part in the survey here.
€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 29th 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:
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/
Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly
3rd Floor North, Ballymun Civic Centre
Main Street, Ballymun
Dublin 9, D09 C8P5
Ireland
+353 (0) 1 8074482
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