Offaly County Council warmly welcomes the announcement made by Darragh O’ Brien TD, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, outlining that €1millon in funding from the EU Just Transition Fund 2021-2027 has been awarded for the upgrading of the Dalton Centre in Shannonbridge. The purpose of the EU Just Transition Fund (EUJTF), co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, is to assist the territories most affected by the transition to a climate neutral economy.
The funding application submitted by Offaly County Council, entitled ‘The Dalton Centre – Enabling the Transition to Net Zero,’ identified the requirement for the provision of essential services to the building and surrounding site, in order that it can used for training or job creation in the construction and renewable energy sectors. The Dalton Centre on the site adjacent to the West Offaly Power Station, was formally transferred by the ESB to Offaly County Council in May 2024 with the Chief Executive, Anna Marie Delaney, advising that it will allow the Local Authority to deliver tangible and meaningful benefits to the local communities in West Offaly in response to their needs.
The Dalton Centre is a large 1,200 square meter industrial building on a 4-hectare site, which has only ever been used to house archive material belonging to the ESB. An Expression of Interest was run by Offaly County Council in September 2024 so as to identify potential uses for the building, which would in turn provide a much-needed boost to the local economy in Shannonbridge and the surrounding areas.
Today Ms. Delaney reiterated “Offaly County Council’s commitment to the former peat communities in West Offaly who have been most impacted by the cessation of commercial peat harvesting and the closure of peat fired power stations in the county in recent years. With the assistance of the EU Just Transition Fund, an upgraded building and site will now be offered to parties willing to enter into a long-term lease with Offaly County Council. Interested parties must be committed to economic diversification or training which supports the development of skills that are now required for the new and emerging businesses within the low carbon economy.”
Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr. Audrey Hennessey Kennedy, has congratulated all recipients announced by the Minister and has also expressed her delight at the award, hailing it as fantastic news for Offaly. “We are delighted with the announcement of €1 million in funding for the Dalton Centre. This significant investment will enable us to further drive innovation, and we thank Minister O’Brien’s department for their support. This funding will help create a lasting impact for the communities of West Offaly.”
The upgrading of the Dalton Centre in Shannonbridge is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund Programme 2021-2027. The project will be managed by the staff of Birr Municipal District with a completion date of 31st March 2026.
