Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is a pleasure to be back in the convention centre, where we had our first Seanad meeting of this mandate. I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter, which is important to the people of Kildare, Offaly, Roscommon, Longford and Westmeath and all those impacted by job losses because of Bord na Móna.

I cannot overstate the importance of Bord na Móna and the employment it gave in my county of Kildare. I grew up just outside Rathangan, close to Allenwood and Coill Dubh, where Bord na Móna has since its inception in 1946 created huge employment. The bog is important not just because of employment, but also because of heritage, the ecological system and horticulture. The families that came to our part of the country from all over Ireland because of the employment Bord na Móna offered settled in and have become part of the area. It is a strong legacy. Over the last number of years, Bord na Móna has been operating in a challenging environment as we have been preparing for the transition to a more climate change-friendly environment. There has been much discussion about the company's long-term viability, particularly in relation to the power stations in the midlands. As a result of that, the just transition scheme was introduced to provide a solution to the problems we would have in terms of job losses and lack of employment going forward. The just transition fund's mission was to create economic opportunity for the front-line communities and workers hardest hit by the transition away from peat. It was to be part grant-maker and part catalyst, to provide investments to help communities create 21st-century jobs and technical assistance, to empower local leaders and communities to act, to advance economic solutions that are equitable, inclusive and low-carbon, to strengthen local economies and to build the resilience of low-income workers.Many of the workers we are talking about traditionally have been low-income workers. I have attended a number of meetings of the just transition group and I commend the work the commissioner, Kieran Mulvey, has done in this area.

My colleague, Deputy Cowen, raised in the Dáil last week the slow pace of transition. Originally, there was talk of the Government offering help, hope, assistance, initiatives, incentives and rewards, but unfortunately that has not come to fruition to date. While we hoped to have innovation championed at this point, that has not happened. Deputy Cowen found out in response to replies to parliamentary questions he tabled that not one job has yet been created by just transition funding and only €166,000 has been drawn down to date. In my area, Allenwood has received significant funding, but again not one cent has been received to date. Funding has also been awarded to the Umeras peatlands project but nothing has yet been received.

I welcome the fact the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, is here to give us an update and I invite him to visit the Lullymore heritage park in my area of Kildare to see the wonderful bog heritage we have. I look forward to hearing his response.