A just transition fund for Moneypoint has been promised by An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar with details to be confirmed at “a later date”.

On the same day, it was announced that up to 500 jobs were to be lost with the phased closure of Molex, Varadkar confirmed to Dr. Michael Harty in the Dáil that a fund would be established to set workers losing their jobs in Moneypoint.

Referring to the 2020 Budget and the proposal to set up a just transition fund of €6m “to help communities to move away from high carbon sources of energy to low sources,” the Independent TD requested it be applied to Clare. “The fund is to be used to mitigate the significant affects on workers and local communities as the transition happens. However, it is to be confined to peat burning stations in the midlands and will not apply to the Moneypoint plant in West Clare. Will the Taoiseach and the Government consider extending the just transition fund to the Moneypoint plant and surrounding communities and workers who will also experience the economic shock as we move to low carbon energy production”.

Varadkar confirmed a just transition fund would be required for Co Clare. “It is intended, by the middle of the decade, to close the Moneypoint plan and remove coal from the grid when it comes to electricity generation. The sum of €6 million announced in the budget is for the Midlands, more specifically, the peatlands, including places such as counties Kildare and Longford. It is part of our response to the fact that peat that is being phased out in electricity generation.

“As I said, the sum of €6 million is for the Midlands. We will need a separate but just transition response for the Moneypoint plant. The ESB is able to redeploy staff, but there will be a loss of income in that part of County Clare, thus we will need a just transition fund for the also. That funding will be separate and form part of a separate announcement at a later date”.

Related News

active travel tulla rd ennis
Start date of construction for Ennis' Active Travel scheme 'is imminent'
Irish-Open-Friday-183
Doonbeg must target lasting legacy Irish Open left in Lahinch
0.9
€6.6m for transformation of Tuam Station House to enterprise hub
matchmaker bar lisdoonvarna 1
Samaritans to support revellers at Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival
Latest News
block r shannon industrial estate 1
Mbyronics lease Block R in Shannon Free Zone as part of Mid-West expansion
aoife power niamh mcmahon 1-2
Power pulls it over the line to win player of the week
active travel tulla rd ennis
Start date of construction for Ennis' Active Travel scheme 'is imminent'
clooney quin v feakle 07-09-25 jerry o'connor 1
Clooney/Quin complete turnaround from relegation battle to county semi-final in twelve months
Irish-Open-Friday-183
Doonbeg must target lasting legacy Irish Open left in Lahinch
Premium
Clooney/Quin complete turnaround from relegation battle to county semi-final in twelve months
Doonbeg must target lasting legacy Irish Open left in Lahinch
€6.9m allocated to transform Cloister into community space
West Clare man (22) charged with sexual assault of 13 year old girl at Vandeleur Woods
Dublin man accused of harassing ex Clare hurler Páidí Fitzpatrick over nine month period

Advertisement

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.