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

mobile banking 1
Phishing scam under investigation in Ennis
pamela mccarthy scoil chríost rí 1
'We don't want freebies, we want what we're entitled to' - school secretaries & caretakers seek pension parity
shannon airport giveaway 2
Shannon Airport giving away 80 flights during month of September
bunratty sheaf 2
Sheaf throwing competition part of the Traditional Harvest Day offering in Bunratty
Latest News
pamela mccarthy scoil chríost rí 1
'We don't want freebies, we want what we're entitled to' - school secretaries & caretakers seek pension parity
shannon airport giveaway 2
Shannon Airport giving away 80 flights during month of September
kilmihil v ennistymon 01-08-25 joey rouine 1
'We won't be afraid of anyone' - excitement building in Ennistymon for Clare SFC quarter-finals
shannon gaels v coolmeen 16-08-25 aidan corry 2
Coolmeen claim last Clare IFC quarter-final spot with dramatic finish
bunratty sheaf 2
Sheaf throwing competition part of the Traditional Harvest Day offering in Bunratty
Premium
shannon gaels v coolmeen 16-08-25 aidan corry 2
Coolmeen claim last Clare IFC quarter-final spot with dramatic finish
cratloe v st josephs doora barefield 16-08-25 diarmuid ryan eoghan thynne tom mcdonald 1
'Hard-fought wins' for Cratloe has paved way to quarter-finals
tulla v killanena 31-08-25 fionn ryan mark flaherty ryan hayes 1
Clare PIHC: Tulla draw knocks out Killanena, Tubber thump Parteen/Meelick & Magpies fall to another shock defeat
st breckans 1
St Breckans put emphasis on earning four-week break to get structure right for knockout football
clonlara v crusheen 23-08-25 oisin o'brien breffni horner 1
'We left it behind us against The Bridge' - Crusheen reflect on latest championship crusade

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.