Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The closure of the two power stations is devastating news for the midlands. It comes on the back of redundancies over the past 20 years in Bord na Móna. There has been much talk about a just transition for the midlands. The midlands includes Laois. The former workers of Bord na Móna and the communities they come from have had no just transition. I want the Minister, Deputy Bruton, to take note that County Laois must be included in the just transition framework.

The €6 million provided by Government and the €5 million provided by the ESB while welcome, is inadequate. It is a drop in the ocean. It will not even create a ripple in terms of what needs to be done. Jobs are promised but the promises are vague. Yesterday morning, 100 jobs were proposed in re-wetting. By yesterday evening, 300 jobs were being reported. These are one-off jobs, not long-term jobs. As mentioned, Shannonbridge and Lough Ree stations need to be converted to biomass. I have been saying for some time that we need to be growing biomass in this country to ensure we have a supply chain.

A further 400 jobs are proposed in retrofitting. While this is welcome, the workers are not skilled in that work and so they will need to be trained up quickly. I reiterate that we need to expand Mount Lucas training centre for this purpose. The centre is located in the midlands, in the heart of Bord na Móna country, and counties Laois, Offaly and Westmeath are close to it. Hundreds of jobs have been lost over the past 20 years. I have already mentioned Bord na Móna. The Coolnamona plant, of which the Minister, Deputy Bruton, is the shareholder representative of the taxpayer, is at the crossroads of the country, less than 1 km from the N7-N8 junction and the N80 junction. This fantastic facility needs to be utilised.

See this speech in context