Offaly to benefit from European Commission ‘START’ supports towards a Just Transition

Offaly to benefit from European Commission ‘START’ supports towards a Just Transition

An application by Offaly County Council for Technical Assistance towards a Just Transition for Peat Regions has been successful. The European Commission programme called START will support project identification and development, communications and stakeholder engagement, and will build capacity and partnerships for delivering a just transition.

The Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr. Frank Moran welcomed the announcement and the thematic areas to be addressed including employment creation, skills development, green energy, cooperative enterprise development, and energy communities.

Chief Executive Ms. Anna Marie Delaney confirmed that she “looked forward to meeting the delegation from the European Commission when they visit Offaly in late March and that the START programme will assist with project development and project plans for the EU’s Just Transition Fund and other supports.”

START technical assistance will develop opportunities to align with and complement other European Commission and European Investment Bank instruments. Offaly County Council will work with the START team with partner organisations including the Technological University of the Shannon, Laois Offaly Education & Training Board and Offaly Local Development.

The START team has begun to engage with Offaly County Council and its partners to develop tailored Work Plans for delivery of technical assistance over the coming 12 months. Lessons and outputs of the technical assistance will be shared with the wider community of coal and peat regions in transition through newsletters, websites and conferences.

The Peat Regions in Transition Secretariat were impressed by the quality of applications received and are looking forward to the next year of technical assistance delivery.