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The refusal to grant planning permission for a new biomass plant at Edenderry, Co Offaly, has been described as a “double whammy” for farmers by Denis Naughten.
The ESB applied to develop its existing site from being a peat fuelled power station to a biomass station, supplied primarily by willow from the surrounding areas.
However, An Bord Pleanála has refused to grant permission at the existing station in Shannonbridge and the existing ash disposal site at Derrylahan, Co Offaly.
Local TD, Denis Naughten said that the news is a “devastating blow to [the] whole region, which completely undermines plans for a just transition away from peat production to sustainable long-term local jobs.”
Income issues
Naughten told the Irish Farmers Journal that it could also have implications for a similar planning application at Lanesboro in Co Longford.
“From an agricultural perspective there are two implications of this decision. The first is that there are a lot of seasonal workers in the area working with Bord na Móna, many of whom are suckler farmers supplementing their income. With the beef crisis in the background this is a double whammy for farmers in the area,” Naughten said.
He said that the second implication for farmers is that opportunities for farmers to replace their income from the peat industry by growing willow for the new plant has also been abolished by An Bord Pleanala’s decision.
“This decision has far reaching implications for 1000s of jobs and families across the midland counties and the very first step that must now be taken is to protect the existing jobs pending a full assessment of the implications of the refusal to extend planning for the west Offaly power station”.
Naughten called on the Taoiseach to call an emergency Cabinet meeting to come forward with proposals to be presented later this week, to secure local jobs in the short-term.
Fianna Fail TD for Offaly Barry Cowen has said that “the speed at which plants are closing and jobs are being lost is completely disproportionate to any investment in the region and the midlands will be left behind. I am calling on the ESB to immediately appeal the decision.”
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