An EU fund for businesses and community organisations affected by the move away from fossil fuel industries is perfectly designed to help communities in Lanesboro and Shannonbridge.
That's the view of the Environment Minister Eamon Ryan as he launched The programme for 2021 to 2027 EU Just Transition Fund this morning at the Corelea trackway Visitor Centre in Longford.
The Just Transition fund has been focused on the Shannonside Region due to the presence of peat burning power stations such as the Lough Ree plant that closed in 2020.
The move to close the powerplant has been met with ongoing criticism. with the decision causing severe economic damage to the town according to locals.
Speaking to Shannonside FM News at the launch, Minister Ryan says the programme can help deliver new enterprise opportunities.
The Minister for Transport, the Environment and Communication urged groups not to delay in applying for the funds.
'It's a good day for the midlands, it's a good day for a lot of the communities and businesses that will be able to use this funding.
They have to make that call for it now and I think it's going to work quite quickly and quite well.
Real projects that can deliver some of those new Enterprise opportunities
It's designed for places exactly like Lanesboro where we can turn it around and that is exactly what the funding is for, to ensure we don't leave places behind.'
