In accordance with Article 13(1)(b) of the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004 (as amended) and Regulation 42 (13)(a) of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (as amended), notice is hereby given that the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly has prepared:

• A Draft EU Just Transition Fund Programme (including Draft Territorial Just Transition Plan) providing a framework for the administration of funds;
• An associated Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report (including Non-Technical Summary) of the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the Plan, in accordance with Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and Council of 27 June 2001 on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, as transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004 (as amended); and
• An associated Appropriate Assessment (AA) Natura Impact Statement, pursuant to Article 6 of Council Directive 92/43/ EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, as transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (as amended).

A copy of the Draft EU Just Transition Fund Programme 2021-2027, of the associated Draft Territorial Just Transition Plan, associated SEA Environmental Report, AA Natura Impact Statement, a Flood Risk Statement and a DNSH assessment can be viewed online and are also available for inspection at the offices of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (Ballymun Civic Centre, Main Street, Ballymun, Dublin 9). Please email eujtf@emra.ie to arrange an appointment.

Written submissions pertaining to the SEA Environmental Report and/or associated AA Natura Impact Statement can be made to eujtf@emra.ie from Tuesday 1^st November to Tuesday 29^th November 2022.

Any written submission or observation with respect to the SEA Environmental Report and/or associated AA Natura Impact Statement, and associated Programme made to the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly within the period referred to above will be taken into consideration before the finalisation of the Programme.

Taking into account the information contained within the SEA and AA documents and the outcomes of public consultation, the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly may finalise the Programme, subject to any updates as relevant.

About the Draft EU Just Transition Fund Programme 2021-2027

The Draft EU Just Transition Fund Programme 2021-2027 is co-funded by the European Just Transition Fund and the Government of Ireland. The Fund is designed to support the regions and communities in Europe that are most affected by the transition to climate neutrality, ensuring that no one is left behind. The Programme aims to address social, employment, economic and environmental impacts that come with the shift away from carbon intense activities. In Ireland’s case, the territory supported by the EU JTF will focus on the regions where there have been direct impacts from the move away from peat production and electricity generation from peat. You can read more about the Programme here.

Data Protection

Please note that responses to this consultation are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI), Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2018 (AIE) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Please also note that we intend to publish the contents of all submissions received to this consultation on our website. Please indicate in your response whether you are submitting a response in a personal capacity or on behalf of an organisation. We will redact personal data prior to publication. There will be no redaction of contact information or names in submissions from an organisation. In responding to this consultation, parties should clearly indicate where their responses contain personal information, commercially sensitive information or confidential information which they would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published.

We would like to draw your attention to our Data Privacy Notice which is available on our website and explains how and when we collect personal data, why we do so and how we treat this information. It also explains your rights in relation to the collection of personal information and how you can exercise those rights.