Just Transition Report Calls For €11 Million To Be Spent This Year

Friday, 22 May 2020 16:53

The Commissioner's report outlines a number of recommendations for the midlands.

The Just Transition Commissioner is outlining a number of recommendations to the government in new report.

Kieran Mulvey has been examining how the midlands can properly phase out the production of fossil fuels.

He's recommending the 11 million euro earmarked for the Transition be used by the end of this year, and that the Midlands Regional Transition Team be reconstituted to now include the chairpersons and CEOs of Roscommon and Kildare County Councils.

The report also says 25 million euro is needed over the next year to help the midlands support employment - recommending the extra money to come from the carbon tax.

Mr. Mulvey also says extra fundsshould be go to Offaly and Longford councils to make up for a shortfall in commercial rates when the Shannonbridge and Laneboro plants close.

Bord na Móna is welcoming the report.

But Fianna Fáil councillor Eamon Dooley doesn't feel there's a lot in the report for Offaly, where the impact of the closure of power plants will be felt the most: