€18m Investment To Midlands Under EU Just Transition Fund

Wednesday, 19 June 2024 08:49

The region is seeing the majority of the latest round of funding.

The midlands is set to benefit from €18.1 million in funding under the Just Transition programme.

22 projects are being allocated funding from a national investment of just over €27 million from the Fáilte Ireland EU Just Transition Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme.

The first round of approved investment grants will see Offaly allocated €8.3 million in funding, with €7.8 million of that being used for the redevelopment of the visitor centre at Clonmacnoise.

Westmeath will benefit from a €4.4 million investment, with the delivery of interpretation, facilities and visitor journey enhancements throughout Athlone Castle to see €3.2 million of that.

€1.8 million is being allocated to Laois, the majority of which will go towards the improvement of the visitor experience at the Rock of Dunamase.

Bord na Móna is also set to see €3.6 million in funding, for the creation of 79km of new walking and cycling trails in Offaly, Westmeath, Longford, Roscommon and Tipperary.

€5.5 million will also benefit 85 tourism businesses.

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan says it marks a significant milestone in the green transition.

"This initiative, co-funded by the Government and the European Union not only provides new employment and economic opportunities for communities and businesses in the Midlands but also helps protect biodiversity, supporting a greener, more sustainable, and low-carbon future.

I look forward to the delivery of these projects and to their positive impact on the Midlands Region."

CEO of Fáilte Ireland, Paul Kelly says:

"These transformative projects, spanning the entire region, will create more reasons for domestic and international tourists to visit Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Ireland’s Ancient East, generating new opportunities for employment, empowering local businesses, and enhancing local communities, while strengthening the appeal of the Midlands as a tourist destination for generations to come. With further investment in projects to be announced over the coming months, this is a very exciting time for the Midlands.

We look forward to further collaboration with local tourism businesses and communities, the Eastern and Midland Regional Authority (EMRA), Bord na Móna, Local Authorities, and our strategic partners including the Office of Public Works, the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, Waterways Ireland, and Coillte to deliver these projects and more under this scheme across the next two years."