Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael)
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I will get straight to the point. On the issue of the transition, it is essential that we achieve a low-carbon or zero-carbon economy in addition to the company's objectives. Much of the presentation referred to issues that will arise in the midlands when the company stops burning peat, including the question of what the transition will involve, the impact on staff, plans for 500 new jobs and the creation of sustainable businesses. The latter is very welcome. I know well the impact of the closure of a power station because the one at Bellacorrick was closed. The region in question in north Mayo is pretty devastated and has not recovered because the plant was a major employer. I would like to believe that in all this, there can be a re-examination of these areas, which were so loyal and serviced Bord na Móna.

I am aware of the plans for the 172 MW wind farm in Oweninny. It is under construction. The community has for the most part accepted the building of the wind farm. I was at the oral hearing. There were community representatives present and they said the will accept the wind farm but want community gain and benefits because the community is crying out for some investment and support because of the closure of the peat-burning power station. This is a topic on which I have written to our guests. This project is not going well. The community has accepted the wind farm, yet there is a serious conflict over a community fund and how it is to be administered. I refer to benefits for the people most immediately affected and those whose visual amenity will be affected by virtue of the turbines, which are to be nearly twice the height of the cooling tower. I cannot figure out why, with all Bord na Móna's stated ambitions to benefit communities and have sustainability, there are people protesting near the site. They are concerned about the operation and construction of the wind farm but they are also anxious about the fund. Some €232,000 per annum is to be distributed in the community. I have heard some Bord na Móna representatives say communities sometimes do not have projects on which to spend a community fund in its fifth or sixth year, yet the community in question is asking that individual households within a certain radius be looked after.

When I raised the need for intervention, the response I received was that people are on the ground. That is not working, however, and there is a need for intervention at a more senior level.

The matter has been batted over to Mayo County Council, but Bord na Móna and ESB need to show more leadership on this. This can be a good news story and a formula can be found for individual households to benefit. The community centres and so on are good, but this is a burning issue. I would like to see the fire quenched and the issue dealt with. No more oil must be poured onto the fire. A message should be communicated that this is all fine and under control and that the money will be there. Communities deserve better and need to be engaged with more. Every community will have its issues. Those issues need to be tackled in this instance, particularly as the money is there and there is support for the wind farm. Can we not make this work?