Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I understand. I will be as brief as I can. I do not want to repeat what has already been said. The ramifications and repercussions of decarbonisation for the region have been and are great. If Deputy Pringle were here, I would remind him about the closure of power stations in Ferbane and Rhode and the loss of the associated harvesting jobs. A decline has been evident in the region, particularly in County Offaly. There are 900 workers in the county at present, compared to 400 in County Kildare, 200 in County Longford, 50 in County Westmeath and 12 in County Laois. Those jobs are great for workers and their families and for communities. I accept that diversification has been taking place. Further diversification is planned involving existing wind, solar and waste operations. There are some exploratory measures involving fish farming, herbs and energy parks. We have seen the success at Lough Boora, where there is potential for further growth.

Notwithstanding all of that, I suggest that Bord na Móna can no longer meet the remit that was placed on its board in the 1940s when it was put in place by Éamon de Valera and Todd Andrews. That remit is now in the hands of the Government. This gets very political, to be quite honest. For reasons of policy and commitment, there is an onus on the Government to put an adequately resourced just transition forum or sustainability forum in place for this region. I appreciate that we have been given a commitment today in respect of the €40 million package. We have to learn lessons from what happened in Littleton. There were 23 meetings before an agreement was reached in that case. I do not want to see that taking place in this instance. Last week, on behalf of Offaly County Council I met representatives of State agencies, bodies and Departments that have a responsibility without being instructed at all. We hope they live up to the expectation that is on them in respect of retraining and reskilling, etc.

I would like to ask some specific questions about the commitment to the workforce that will remain, or is expected to remain, up to 2027. It is expected that the ESB will make an application for co-fuelling. Such an application is long overdue. I hope and expect that in the next week, it does what it has committed to do, at least. I would like the witnesses to square a circle for me in that context. I understand it was envisaged that under the public service obligation, the cost of fuelling the three power plants would be approximately €40 per tonne. When the public service obligation is gone next year, that figure will decrease to €20 per tonne. Given that it was difficult enough to maintain and ensure viability at €40 per tonne, can viability be guaranteed and ensured at €20 per tonne? Can we receive a cast-iron commitment to that effect? Can the workers who will be associated with providing and harvesting peat be assured and reassured that assuming permission is obtained and the application is made as envisaged, they will able to make those stations work?