Cowen seeks publication of plan to draw down EU Just Transition funding

Laois/Offaly Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen has urged the Government to publish the plan it will submit to the European Commission seeking to draw down further €84.5 million from the coal and peat Region in Transition fund.

Speaking in the Dail last week, Cowen said the Government should soon, if not immediately, publish this plan, known as a territorial plan

He also said the funding must be “better targeted to benefit those most impacted by the acceleration of decarbonisation, particularly in my own county of Offaly and other counties in our region.”

As part of the European Green Deal and in order to secure funding from the Just Transition Fund, EU Member States need to prepare strategic Territorial Just Transition Plans (TJTP) - identifying the eligible territories that are expected to be the most negatively impacted by the climate transition.