Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

My question concerns the future of Moneypoint electricity power station on the Shannon Estuary in west Clare. It is the only coal burning station in Ireland. It opened over 40 years ago and is coming to the end of its natural lifespan. It is due to cease burning coal and producing electricity in 2025, which is just six years from now. It is an important part of the national grid and is an important installation for electricity production. It produces, at its maximum, 900 MW of electricity, which is up to 20% of the national requirement. It is also a very important employer in west Clare. What is the future of electricity production in Moneypoint and what is the long-term future for the plant?

On 5 December I wrote to the Minister asking him to clarify exactly what is planned for Moneypoint when it comes to the end of its operational life in 2025 as a coal burning station, and asking him to engage with the ESB in order to inform the public about the company's future intentions for the site. The Minister replied, saying that it is settled public policy that electricity generation from coal will cease not later than 2025. The position has been outlined in a number of public policy documents. The national mitigation plan, the National Development Plan 2018-2027 and the 2015 energy policy paper concerning Ireland's transition to a low-carbon energy future were all mentioned. A Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to moving towards a sustainable and suitable low-carbon technology to replace coal burning in Moneypoint in 2025. The Minister committed to asking ESB to provide a paper on the options for the replacement of coal burning in Moneypoint. I understand that paper has not yet been provided. Does the Minister know when it will be available?

The experts in Moneypoint would be the best people to identify what is the future of Moneypoint. Will it be phased out gradually when 2025 comes along? Will it be kept in reserve for use in times of extraordinary need? Will it be converted to alternative energy sources such as gas or biomass? Will it act as a terminal for providing off-shore wind and tidal energy production if the technology is available?

There is some commentary on Moneypoint in the climate action cross-party consensus which was published in March this year. The committee recommended that the active use of Moneypoint should be kept to a minimum and looked forward to examining the future proposals for that site. The committee was also cognisant of the impact on those whose livelihoods are dependent on Moneypoint and said that engagement with those whose employment will be affected by the closure of Moneypoint should commence at least three years prior to any proposed closure. The time for that is really now, because we are in the middle of 2019: 2025 is less than six years away. Moneypoint sustains 400 jobs, both directly and indirectly in west Clare. What is the future for those jobs? What is the Minister's view on the future for Moneypoint?

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