183 jobs in projects supported by Just Transition Fund
A government-commissioned report reveals that the National Just Transition Fund in Ireland failed to meet its employment targets, creating only 183 of the projected 1,094 jobs. The fund was intended to support the Midlands region following the closure of peat-fired power stations.
Why it matters
It highlights the challenges of government-led economic transition programs and the potential disconnect between strategic funding goals and actual job creation outcomes.
A report on a fund designed to help the Midlands recover from the closure of peat-fired power stations found just one-sixth of the hoped-for jobs materialised.
Projects supported by the National Just Transition Fund (NJTF) had been expected to create up to 1,094 full and part-time jobs. However, just 183 posts resulted.
An analysis said it was also hoped the programme could lead to as many as 1,600 indirect jobs.
In this area, the project worked better but it was still well short of estimates with 956 full or part-time roles created.
The report by Indecon said the NJTF had a positive impact on the Midlands in terms of community resilience, training supports, environmental sustainability, tourism infrastructure and small business growth.
"Some issues are likely to exist around the long-term sustainable impact of the Fund," it said however.
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