Bord na Móna job losses
Deputy Calleary raised Bord na Móna restructuring and possible Offaly job losses, asking what support the Government could provide and whether European adjustment funding might be sought. The Minister said he had not seen the statement, noted Bord na Móna’s challenges, and was open to engaging further with the relevant minister.
The Minister will be aware of the announcement by Bord na Móna yesterday that up to 150 jobs are going to go in Offaly as a consequence of restructuring and decarbonising the Bord na Móna business. This is going to have a huge impact. I know from speaking to Deputy Cowen this morning that he is particularly concerned about the impact in Offaly. What plans has the Government put in place to assist Bord na Móna through this process? Will it look to speak to the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund in the context that this loss to Offaly is similar to the losses in Waterford Glass and in Dell and given that the company has no option but to make these redundancies because of its decarbonisation obligation?
Comment on this
I have not as yet seen the statement to which Deputy Calleary refers and I am not sure if Bord na Móna has made a specific statement on its future intentions. What I do know as a Deputy for the constituency to which Deputy Calleary refers is that Bord na Móna needs to meet some challenges and, to meet them, it must identify new business opportunities that provide profitability. I would be happy to engage with the new Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Bruton, on this issue but I acknowledge that there are opportunities for Bord na Móna. I would be as keen as anyone in the House that the Government would play a part in ensuring that these opportunities come to fruition.