Tourism enterprises in Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District can seek EU Just Transition funding

Tipperary County Council is preparing to submit an application for funding to the EU’s Just Transition scheme for tourism projects within Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District and the scheme will also be open to funding applications from  tourism businesses based in the district. 

That’s what councillors were told at Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District’s monthly meeting, which heard that details on the 2023 round of applications for Just Transition funding will be announced in the next few weeks. 

Carrick-on-Suir and Thurles Municipal Districts are the only two regions in county Tipperary where Just Transition Scheme grants can be allocated.

 The aim of the fund is to address the long-term economic transition of regions following the end of commercial peat harvesting by Bord na Móna and peat-fire power generation. 

Tipperary County Council has submitted a request to also include parts of Nenagh Municipal District in the Just Transition Scheme. 

Carrick MD Director of Services Brian Beck told Carrick MD’s monthly meeting the council hasn’t received any response to this request and he doesn’t believe it will be successful as the scheme’s rules are set at EU level. 

He explained the Just Transition Fund allocated grants for “tracks and trails” tourism ventures and to support tourism businesses.

 This means it’s open for small and medium  tourism enterprises within Carrick Municipal District, to submit funding applications to the Just Transition Fund. The district   stretches from Ballinure near Thurles to Carrick-on-Suir town. 

 There is a €38m funding pot available for tracks and trails grants and  €60m for generation tourism projects. 

Mr Beck, who chairs Tipperary County Council’s Just Transition Group, said it was open to the council to apply for funding for projects within the district and he intended to make such an application. 

“We will chase as much (funding) as we can,” he pledged.

 Littleton  Labyrinth

He confirmed to Cllr Imelda Goldsboro from Ballingarry that the Littleton Labyrinth Walk & Cycleway along the route of the old peat rail line at Littleton Bog is one of the projects the council is examining for a Just Transition Fund grant application.  He said the council had to receive the full details of the Just Transition funding “call out” before making a decision.

  Tipperary County Council granted planning permission for the 7km greenway last September.

 The project will link the existing walking loop at Lough Doire Bhile with the existing Derrynaflan walking loop and cycle trail and upgrade both trails.

 It’s a joint venture between Tipperary County Council and Bord na Móna.