New funding of almost €35 million to further support local authorities in climate action has been announced by Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien.

€30 million is being provided to local authorities in the Midlands EU Just Transition Territory to support their climate action, as part of the EU’s Just Transition Fund (EU JTF) programme, which is co-funded by the government of Ireland and the EU. 

The new scheme, Supporting a Sustainable Transition through Climate Action for a Resilient Territory (START), will support local authority-led climate action plan infrastructure projects and feasibility studies that align with the EU JTF programme.

The types of projects that local authorities can submit for consideration under this closed call include but are not limited to the following: 

Renewable energy solutions, enhancing community engagement, promoting sustainability;
Enhancing energy efficiency of public and community buildings;
Active travel and sustainable transport;
Transforming former landfill sites into tourism/recreational spaces, developing community/heritage spaces, enhancing public amenities.

The START programme will be administered by Pobal on behalf of the Department of the Climate, Energy and the Environment and the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA).

Local authority climate action

In addition to the €30 million START fund, a further €4.9 million is also being made available to support local authority climate action across all of Ireland.

This will break down as follows: 

The three Irish cities in the EU Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission – Cork, Dublin and Galway – will be able to access funding of €2 million next year;
A new fund of €1.5 million will be set up to assist local authorities with their decarbonising zones (DZs), spatial areas selected by local authorities as the focus for climate mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity projects;
There is a new €2.5 million European Regional Development Fund scheme for local authorities in the northern and western region. It offers resources for local projects in DZs on adaptation or the protection of biodiversity and green infrastructure. The department is committing €1 million in funding;
Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs) will receive €2.4 million in 2026 – an increase of €400,000. The offices support local authorities to deliver climate action, helping them develop local climate plans and sharing best practice across the regions;

Local authorities or local authority-led partnerships in the Just Transition Fund region will lead the delivery of these projects, from identifying local priorities and applying for funding, to working with community partners on implementation.

These announcements follow a funding commitment at the end of 2025 of €26.9 million to help community climate action projects and a community climate action officer in each local authority to 2027.

‘Place-based climate action’

Commenting on the funding, Minister O’Brien said: “Our local authorities are the leaders in making sustainability at a community level a reality.

Commenting on the launch of the START scheme, Clare Bannon, a director for EMRA, said: “EMRA is looking forward to launching the START scheme which marks a transformative moment for the wider Midlands region.

“With this vital boost of investment in the region from government and European Union funding sources, we can empower local decisive climate action, fostering greener and more resilient communities that support the unique character and history of the region.”

Pobal CEO, Anna Shakespeare, said the organisation is pleased to administer the funding.

She added: “This investment will enable local authorities, and the organisations they work with, to progress projects that strengthen local resilience, improve public amenities, and support communities as they navigate the transition to a more sustainable future.”