*Moneypoint.
STEPS need to be taken now to ensure future benefits of Moneypoint are realised in West Clare.
An economic uplift for West Clare will only be achieved if foresight is shown to capitalise on the opportunities, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) has stressed.
ESB’s €5bn Green Atlantic development at Moneypoint is to create between 50 to 100 jobs with the provision of a €50m Synchronous Compensator while the construction of the offshore windfarm is envisaged to result in up to 600 new jobs.
In 2021, ESB announced details of Green Atlantic at Moneypoint , which will see the site redeveloped into a renewables hub which will include the commissioning of one of the largest Synchronous Condensors in the world, a 1,400 MW offshore wind farm, delivered in two phases, a wind turbine construction and service hub plus the development of green hydrogen production, storage and generation facility.
Cllr Lynch in a proposal before the West Clare Municipal District urged the Municipal District, Clare County Council, Clare Local Enterprise Office and ESB’s station manager at Moneypoint to establish a working group “to ensure that all relevant bodies are aware of the planned works for Moneypoint, so the appropriate arrangements can be made locally to ensure that the economic uplift for increased activity is achieved throughout West Clare”.
Acting Director of Service for Tourism and the West Clare MD, John O’Malley said they along with colleagues from the Economic Development Directorate of the Council, Clare LEO “and other key staff” would “liaise with senior staff from ESB Moneypoint on setting up a team to work together to ensure that the benefits of the future plans for the facility are delivered on for the West Clare area”.
Speaking at a meeting of the West Clare MD, Cllr Lynch admitted he tabled the motion “out of frustration and out of concern”. He flagged that Kilrush was bucking the trend nationally with “restaurants and cafes opening up when they’re closing across the country but we will have two shops closed by the end of the year due to retirements”.
He continued, “We’re promised down the road that 600 people coming will save Kilrush, they are here now and there is nowhere for them to stay”. Improved communication could have improved the availability of accommodation in West Clare, “there’s a huge number of Air BnBs, people would be delighted if they knew the amount of people coming for short-term lets then they’d be delighted to not be changing the sheets every two days”.
Kilrush native Lynch warned, “Kilrush and West Clare will not survive if we are not ready for these 600 people”. He continued, “There is no property for sale or developer building in Kilrush” and said, “Moneypoint is there, it is not a future project, it is there now” while pointing out 600 workers were presently on site.
Cathaoirleach of the West Clare MD, Cllr Rita McInerney stressed, “it is vital we avail of this opportunity and have this uplift”.
O’Malley told the meeting that “a number of meetings” have been held “over the last year or two”. He stated, “We have the connection made in relation to that, we’ll drive forward to get a more concrete route. We’re aware of any opportunities and we will work on that”.
