Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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74. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the actions he has taken to date to implement the recommendations of the report by the just transition commissioner. [25132/20]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Minister update us on the implementation of the recommendations of the report by the just transition commissioner?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The first progress report of the just transition commissioner, Mr. Kieran Mulvey, was published on 22 May. The report reflects a comprehensive engagement with relevant stakeholders in the midlands, setting out an analysis of the challenges facing the region, Bord na Móna workers, their families and communities arising from an accelerated exit from peat harvesting. The report containsimportant recommendations. The Government is already acting on a number of these and is committed to preparing an implementation plan to address the remainder, which I intend to publish in the coming weeks.

The recommendations and associated actions will support job creation efforts and create new opportunities for Bord na Móna workers in the midlands. A number of actions are under way that will support job creation. They include an allocation of €20 million for a new energy efficiency retrofitting scheme in the midlands and €5 million for peatland rehabilitation outside of the Bord na Móna estate. A dedicated just transition fund is making available up to €11 million in 2020 to fund innovative projects that contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the wider midlands region and which have employment and enterprise potential. On foot of its recent call for proposals under this fund, my Department published an initial list of 16 successful projects on 9 September and additional projects will be approved in the next few weeks.

The Government has also committed €15 million, as part of the July stimulus plan, to commence a multi-year programme to rehabilitate 33,000 ha of Bord na Móna peatlands. This additional funding will support a just transition by maintaining jobs in the midlands and laying the foundation for more substantial and sustainable job creation into the future. The enhanced rehabilitation scheme will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by significantly increasing the area of wetland habitats in post-production peatlands. Further additional benefits include increasing biodiversity, improving water quality and supporting bog ecosystem services.

In addition, following on from the recommendation in the first report of the just transition commissioner and the commitment in the programme for Government, a feasibility study into the establishment of a green energy hub using the existing infrastructure at the west Offaly and Lough Ree power plants will commence shortly. A steering group is being established which will be chaired by the ESB and include representatives of my Department, Bord na Móna, relevant local authorities and other stakeholders. I expect the work of the group to be completed this year.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his response and acknowledge the progress that has been made to date on foot of the arrangements emanating from last year's budget. Other commitments contained in the programme for Government will build upon that progress. We look forward to seeing commitments in the forthcoming budget in addition to the funding that has been provided to date, as outlined by the Minister.

I want to focus specifically on the final part of the Minister's answer concerning the exploratory process for providing green energy hubs using the existing infrastructure of the power plants in Lough Ree and west Offaly, namely, Lanesborough and Shannonbridge. On 22 July, I raised with the Minister the prospect of the ESB seeking tenders for the demolition of those plants. Unfortunately, that prospect has now come to fruition, with the ESB publishing those tender documents last week. This flies in the face of the commitment we had understood was in place in respect of the plants. It jeopardises the potential for alternative industry, employment and prospects for the two locations and the wider region if the ESB is allowed to proceed with its plans.

Following on from the same plea I made in July, will the Minister indicate what prospect there is on the part of Government, insofar as it has dealings with the ESB, to ask the company to refrain from its present course of action, to allow a window of opportunity whereby a competition might be forthcoming from private or public sector interests and to ascertain what best use might evolve from such a process to ensure alternative job prospects and alternative prospects for the well-being of the communities involved?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Since the Deputy and I discussed this matter, I have had meetings with Mr. Mulvey, the ESB and the manager of Offaly County Council to discuss it. I am fully aware of the concerns in this matter, particularly in respect of the two plants to which the Deputy referred.

I am sure the Deputy is fully aware that the only reason tenders for removal of the existing plant had to be advertised was that it was a condition of the original planning permission. The European tendering process in that regard does not commit the ESB to any course of action regarding the future use of the site and does not prejudge the outcome of the feasibility study into the possible establishment of a green or renewable energy hub on either site. Given the grid connections that exist on site and the expertise that exists in Bórd na Mona and IN the region in logistics and energy management it is obviously preferable that alternative uses be found rather than simply decommissioning the sites. We should not prejudge what they may be or preclude things. I have heard a variety of different suggestions not just in energy but also in waste management and other areas. As such my instinct is that it is better for us to see what proposals arise out of that, to let the working group do its work and to not rule out any option. In our discussion on the climate fund, I believe I said that if there are good applications coming through, I am sure funding would arise to support them.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Obviously applications for such funding cannot be forthcoming because there is no potential for a legal interest in the applicant while the present situation continues. While I accept the bona fides of the Minister's response, I would have thought it would be impossible for the ESB to make an application for permission to retain the structures which would supersede the previous permission and the conditions associated with it. If I am to take it at face value, the Minister is telling me that despite the publication and the seeking of tenders for its demolition publicised last week, ESB may well not act upon any such submissions it might receive and it would be folly on the part of any commercial operation to seek to tender, in the knowledge that the Minister has today informed the House that the prospect of a green energy hub remains alive. This raises the prospect of a potential open competition from the wider public for the Minister or the ESB to ascertain the benefit to the community of offering alternatives that might well benefit the region. This would be preferable to a semi-State body demolishing something that cost many hundreds of millions of euro in the past ten to 20 years, but more to the point, demolishing prospective alternatives which might well yield a much better result.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The ESB was required to put that advert in as a condition of a planning permission and it has to operate within the law. Yes, we should be open to alternative uses. The reality with the plant itself is the question of what other applications or uses there are for a plant which was very specifically designed, built and has been operated for 18 years for one use. How that very specific infrastructure can be repurposed or reconditioned for another use is not something I have a clear example of elsewhere. However the sites have, as I said, other characteristics, including grid connection and if a use can be found, be it for the boiler or the other equipment on the site, which could be part of a new energy hub, then we should certainly look at that. We should not restrict the options though, because applications other than the reintroduction of the exact same power plants are far more likely. It will have to be something which provides a much more secure long-term future. Investing in something which is not going to be viable or does not make best use of the sites would not serve the local community.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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We are way over time. Question No. 70 is in the name of Deputy Catherine Connolly.