Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The issue is having quality jobs to replace those being lost and that have already been lost in Bord na Móna in counties Laois and Offaly and the other midlands counties. Does Cúil na Móna figure in this just transition or is County Laois being written out of it altogether? County Offaly is being very badly affected by what is happening. County Laois has been very badly affected and there will be further job losses. I asked the Minister about the use of biomass in the two power plants at Lanesborough and Shannonbridge. It is very important that they not be demolished. We must look at converting them to 100% biomass and put in place biomass supply chains. We must also provide for training for retrofitting. There was a sum of €430 million collected last year in carbon taxes without any increase in it. There is €30 million in total going into the just transition fund for the midlands, which seems to be a small amount.

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