Fáilte Ireland launched on 11th January 2024 an open call for Expressions of Interest for its Tourism Learning Network Programme, as part of the EU Just Transition Fund Regenerative Tourism & Placemaking Scheme for Ireland’s Midlands 2023-2026.
This scheme provides Fáilte Ireland with grant-aid to deliver a range of supports to tourism enterprises and individuals, as well as offering support to applicants to the other complementary schemes under the Regenerative Tourism & Placemaking Scheme to increase tourism business capability and drive productivity. The ambition of this scheme is to holistically target the businesses in the territory to upskill them in leveraging tourism as a growth driver. Business will be engaged to be better, more visible, and successfully win business. This will create new jobs in the sector and support growth in the visitor economy.
The purpose for this call and of this business capability programme is to support private, public, and community-based micro enterprises, SMEs and employees of strategic partner organisations to improve their understanding of visitors and buyers, the quality of their visitor experience, and the efficacy of their operations. All of this is with a view to positioning these businesses to attract more visitors, increase visitor dwell time, and secure overnight stays in the territory.
Applicants of this open call will be able to engage in inspirational seminars, structured learning, and benefit from invaluable insights to develop a successful and sustainable tourism business or propel your personal career in the tourism sector.
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 call falls under the EU JTF programme Priority 1: Generating Employment for former peat communities by investing in the diversification of the local economy. The specific operation concerned is Action 1.1: Foster the economic diversification of the territory by supporting productive investments in micro-enterprises, SMEs and economic stakeholders in key sectors.
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:
1. Existing and new tourism enterprises: Commercial and not for profit enterprises, charities, community, and social enterprises engaging or diversifying into tourism in the Just Transition territory.
2. Strategic partner organisations: Management, staff and agents of strategic partner organisations (such as Coillte, Waterways Ireland, OPW, Local Authorities)
3. Individuals: Previous employees of Bord na Móna and ESB Network Programmes involved in peat or electricity production in the Just Transition territory seeking to transition into a career in tourism
See full list of eligible applicants and sectors on the call webpage.
Total amount of support:
In order to manage the EU Just Transition Fund budget allocation and ensure that an appropriate balance of spend is achieved in line with the overall objectives of the Fund, it is at the discretion of Fáilte Ireland to place spending caps on one or more of the Schemes (B-G of the Regenerative Tourism & Placemaking Scheme) during their operation, depending on the demand generated for each scheme. The total amount of funding available for Schemes B-G inclusive is €38million.
Indicative amount for this programme is €0.5m.
Call start and end dates:
Call 1 for Expressions of Interest opens Thursday 11th January and closes 22 February 2024 at noon extended to 28th February 2024 at 2.00pm.
Two subsequent calls are planned for late Q3 2024 and Q1 2025.
Application Process:
To apply, businesses should submit a short Expression of Interest (EOI) form via Fáilte Ireland’s online self-service portal.
Full details and a programme brochure/prospectus are available on the scheme page: www.failteireland.ie/Identify-Available-Funding/Just-Transition-Fund/learning-programme.aspx.
Further information and resources:
Watch a presentation outlining this scheme given at the general EUJTF information session on 24 January 2024.
If you have any questions about the call, you can email justtransition@failteireland.ie or call the Customer Support Team on 0818 888800.
Full information is available on Fáilte Ireland’s page for this call.
