Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I address my question to Ms Farrelly, chief executive of Offaly County Council. It relates to just transition. I was pleased that she referred to some of the issues that groups are having with trying to draw down their strand 2 funding. It is frustrating for them. An additional issue is the escalation in construction costs. Some project managers are saying that their costs have increased by as much as 30% and it poses a problem. The region is disappointed that the ESB plans to proceed with its demolition plans at both Shannonbridge and Lanesborough, County Longford. Ms Farrelly said that they have plans for energy hubs there. Does she have any more information about what those energy hubs entail? Are they purely storage facilities for energy? Is there any dividend to the local community? Are there any job opportunities? There is a sense that there will not be.

Is there an onus on us as a Government to go to the ESB and an onus on the ESB to come forward to say that the €5 million it has committed to the just transition is not sufficient? The midlands have been the energy centre of the country for 60 years. If that €5 million is broken down, it would be the equivalent of €1,600 a week over those 60 years. It is derisory in that context. There is a growing sense of frustration in communities that what they have got under strand 2 will simply not make the numbers add up. Has Ms Farrelly any more information on the energy hubs? Is there a potential local upside? What is the view at senior management level of local authorities about going back to the ESB to ask it to man up and put more money in the pot?