Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I intend to share time with Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy.

I welcome the decision of the Business Committee to allocate time to allow us to discuss this very important issue. As Members are aware, the position in respect of Bord na Móna has been threatened by a number of decisions. This is a very worrying time for workers, their families and the entire midlands region. We have had substantial use of peat in power generation in three plants, one operated by Bord na Móna and two by the ESB. The Edenderry plant has permission for co-firing and that continues to 2023. However, regarding the planning application made by the ESB in respect of the other two plants, in the case of West Offaly Power, a decision was made by An Bord Pleanála that it would not grant the permission sought for co-firing. There was considerable discussion about the opportunity for a judicial review of that decision. Having considered the basis on which a judicial review can be taken, which is essentially a failure of due process within the planning process, the ESB decided that there were no grounds on which to take such a review. An application has been made to Longford County Council in respect of the Lough Ree plant but a decision has not yet been made on it.

Against the background of this considerable setback to the original plan, which was to have a gradual exit from peat but with more years during which it would continue to be used to for electricity generation, the Government has decided that we need to be prudently preparing for alternative opportunities for these workers. I have met the workers concerned, the worker directors, the community and public representatives in the area. There is a strong desire on the part of the workers, their families and the region in general that alternative opportunities would be available to copper-fasten the future of people who anticipated that they would have opportunities to continue to work up to 2027-2028. As a result of that, we have been working diligently to develop those alternatives.

As Members know, in the recent budget we made a significant announcement in that context. That provides for the establishment of a €20 million fund to have aggregated retrofitting in the midlands, which will provide new work opportunities. We also made a decision that we would establish a just transition fund of €6 million, which would be available to support change for both the workers and the region. We also made a decision that, apart from Bord na Móna's work to rehabilitate bogs, which will provide work opportunities, we will also accelerate the work done by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in facilitating the rehabilitation of bogs. We anticipate that the employment opportunities generated by these alternative activities could run to 400 or 500. In addition, Bord na Móna has recognised that it has an obligation to restore its bogs. We have been working with the European Union to consider how further support can be obtained in order to develop a high standard of rehabilitation that would provide additional work opportunities over a sustained period. We continue to discuss the opportunities for that with the European Union.

I have also been involved in discussions with outgoing Commissioner Cañete. We have secured agreement that peat would be included in the coal regions in transition platform. It has been agreed to include peat in that, which will allow us to have the support of a dedicated country team comprised of Commission experts who will be visiting Ireland next month to work with all those involved - workers in the region, the transition team and Bord na Móna - to develop alternative opportunities.

At the core of this is Bord na Móna's own ambition to move strongly, as it would describe it, from brown to green. It made a significant announcement recently re-endorsing that ambition to move by 80% from brown to green by 2025. It has had significant successes in developing alternative opportunities in recycling, alternative and renewable fuels and alternative activities for its 80,000 ha landbank. It continues to develop those opportunities. They will be important activities. Bord na Móna is unique in the context of the midlands in that it is a commercial State body dedicated to providing employment opportunities in the midlands. It has recognised that we are moving out of solid fuel generation. We are moving out of coal and peat. It must transform that business and provide opportunities for workers and for the regions.

I assure the House that the Government is wholly committed to delivering a just transition for the workers, their families, the region and the enterprises in those areas. We will be seeking to work with all the key players to make that a reality. I have already dedicated my senior officials to develop this retrofitting model, along with other Departments. I have committed to appoint a just transition commissioner who will assist us in developing the framework to achieve that just transition.

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