Repeated failures to use EU Just Transition funds - C&AG
There have been "repeated failures" to utilise funds provided under the European Union's Just Transition Fund (JTF) due to implementation delays, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) has found.
Repeated failures to utilise EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) resources have been identified by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) in Ireland. The EU JTF aims to support affected communities in transitioning to a greener economy in a fair manner. In Ireland, the programme focuses on specific regions in the Midlands that have been hardest hit by the shift away from peat production and peat-based electricity generation.
The 2025 C&AG report highlights underspends on JTF spending since 2023, with only €51m paid to programme beneficiaries and €14m in eligible expenditure reported as of August 2025. The C&AG found that the EU funding drawn down to date is significantly lower than projected, with the government required to draw down an additional €25.3m by the end of 2025 to avoid funding decommitment.
Two of the nine original actions within the programme encountered significant implementation challenges and were removed last March. These actions had targeted the rehabilitation of 10,000 hectares of land and the deployment of 60 public electric vehicle chargers. The C&AG noted the complex and fragmented funding picture, with no comprehensive account of the total programme spend or amount drawn down from the EU.
The Government stated that its accounting function monitors and records all payment claims submitted to the European Commission and tracks the total funds received.
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