This first payment request relates to 36 milestones and five targets. These cover numerous investments, for instance in the area of jobs and skills through a work placement experience programme, a programme for green skills, and strengthening the capacity of Technological Universities. Investments also concern the digital transition, through the digitalisation of public administration and the connection of schools to the broadband network. In terms of the green transition, they cover the preparation and the start of work on the rehabilitation of peatlands, the electrification of public transport in Cork, investments in the energy-efficiency of public buildings, and the upgrade of wastewater treatment plants.
The payment request also includes a series of reforms, including to support decarbonisation with a reform of carbon taxation, to reduce regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship by introducing an ‘SME test’ for new legislation, as well as to address the digital divide and enhance digital skills, for instance by putting in place a new digital strategy for schools and providing disadvantaged students with ICT equipment.
Ireland’s overall recovery and resilience plan will be financed by €914 million in grants. Payments under the RRF are performance-based and contingent on Ireland implementing the investments and reforms outlined in its recovery and resilience plan.
The Commission will now assess the request and will then send its preliminary assessment of Ireland’s fulfilment of the milestones and targets required for this payment to the Council’s Economic and Financial Committee.
More information on the process of the payment requests under the RRF is available in this Q&A. More information on Ireland’s recovery and resilience plan is available here.
