A new multi million euro European fund to held the midlands move away from the peat burning industry must not burden local communities.
The 169 million euro in grants are designed to create new green jobs, stimulate business, increase sustainable tourism and alleviate the transition from peat burning.
Roscommon/Galway TD Denis Naughten is calling for the new EU Just Transition Fund to be administered without the requirement of match funding.
A government led initiative a number of years ago targeting the same areas, required local communities to raise matching funding to secure the grant.
The Shannonside community was highly active in the industry with plants such as the Lough Ree Power Station burning peat until 2020.
Hundreds of jobs were affected when the station shut off it's boilers almost two years ago.
Deputy Naughten believes local communities should benefit from the EU funds without having to be put under the pressure to fundraise
''We're talking about communities that have lost jobs as a result of the closure of the two power stations, the loss of those wage packets in the local community, the impact it's having on local businesses. And then we're asking those fUnd communities to go and fundraise to find matching funding so that they can replace the jobs that have been lost as a result of a government and decisions by state companies. And that is just not good enough. And that cannot be allowed to happen with this EU funding.''
