Mr. Mark Griffin:

There are a couple of points. From our perspective in the Department, we are acutely conscious of the very fundamental changes that are occurring in the midlands and the very fundamental changes that are occurring for people who have worked in Bord na Móna, the ESB and related industries for decades. We secured the €108 million for the bog rehabilitation scheme pre-Christmas, which was a very positive outcome. Tranches of funding have been approved in principle for a range of projects to be funded under the just transition fund and at EU level, a further tranche of just transition funding is likely to be made available to the State over the 2021-27 period, which again is a really positive thing.

On the specific points, I know from speaking to Bord na Móna that it is keen to make sure the infrastructure that is available within the midlands region, that is, the connections to the grid, are harnessed, whether that is through the connections of additional renewable energy or otherwise. At one point, given the grid connection, I believe consideration was given to whether a data centre that could be connected to the grid was appropriate.

On the broader point on ESB plants, one of the things Mr. Kieran Mulvey set out in his report, which he provided to the then Minister back in May or June 2020, was the need for a group to look at how that existing infrastructure could be used. That group is currently sitting and is chaired by the ESB. Other local stakeholders are involved and the Department sits on it. I do not know if there is anything specific Mr. Maughan can say around that. I understand the work of that group is to conclude probably within the first quarter of this year.