Ó fógraíodh Dé Luain seo caite ag Bord Soláthair an Leictreachais go bhfuil siad ag moladh don Aire an stáisiún ginte leictreachais i nGaoth Dobhair a dhúnadh, tá míshásamh mór ar fud an cheantair Ghaeltachta seo agus tá imní mór ar mhuintir an cheantair, má théann an bord ar aghaidh leis an phlean seo a chur i bhfeidhm go ndéanfaidh sé an-dochar do chúrsaí eacnamaíochta agus fostaíochta ansin. Ó bunaíodh an stáisiún sna caogaidí tá sé faoi lánseol go dtí an lá atá inniu ann agus d'éirigh leis obair, fostaíocht agus teacht isteach a chur ar fáil, ní amháin do na daoine a bhí ag obair sa stáisiún féin — agus tá 25 duine ag obair go lánaimseartha i láthair na huaire — ach freisin do na céadta teaghlach a bhaineann móin gach bliain agus a chuireann isteach go dtí an stáisiún é.
In ainneoin na drochaimsire a bhí againn le cúpla bliain anuas d'éirigh leo 1,100 tonna a chur isteach sa stáisiún anuraidh. Anois nuair atá cúrsaí fostaíochta chomh holc sin — tá 150 post caillte sa cheantar sin le cúpla mí anuas sa mhonarcha ansin agus tá cúlú mór ar chúrsaí fostaíochta — sílim go mbeidh níos mó daoine sna blianta atá amach romhainn gan obair agus go mbeidh níos mó daoine ann le móin a bhaint agus a shábháil agus a chur isteach go dtí an stáisiún. Is fiú beagnach £1 mhilliún sa bhliain an stáisiún don cheantar Gaeltachta seo agus má dhúntar é agus má chuirtear an plean i bhfeidhm, déanfaidh sé dochar mór, cuirfidh sé leis an dífhostaíocht agus leis an imirce, agus is olc an rud é sin tarlú i gceantar Ghaeltachta.
Nuair a chuimhníonn duine go bhfuil tionscal traidisiúnta cosúil le hiascareacht ag dul in olcas ó bhliain go blian, sílimse go bhfuil sé níos tábhachtaí ná riamh go gcoinneofaí an stáisiún sin ar oscailt.
The shock announcement by the ESB on Monday that they are recommending the closure of their turf generating station in Gweedore has caused widespread regret and disappointment throughout that parish in the Donegal Gaeltacht. If the proposal is implemented it will inflict severe economic hardship on an area already hard hit by high unemployment and emigration.
It is generally accepted that the station provides an income in the region of about £1 million per annum to the 25 permanent full-time employees there and to the 150 to 160 families engaged in the cutting, saving and provision of the turf. This is an industry completely and wholly based on an indigenous and plentiful raw material. Every unit of electricity generated there does not add a single penny to our import bill.
The ESB have been propagating the rumour that the Gweedore station is costing £1 million per annum to the electricity consumer. I reject this estimate and even if it were true it merely represents 0.1 of 1 per cent of the overall turnover of the board which is in the region of about £1 billion per annum — a mere drop in the ocean.
The proposal to close the station contradicts and dishonours all undertakings and pledges given by the ESB these last number of years — to keep the station operational as long as the local contractors and families continue to provide a supply of turf.
When one considers that about 150 industrial jobs have already been lost in this Gaeltacht region during the past few months and that traditional industries such as fishing are in decline the closure of the station would be a further devastating blow that would most certainly lead to higher unemployment and emigration.
I am appealing to the Minister and the Government to have this proposal rejected. It is nothing more than a book-keeping exercise without any consideration of what its implementation would inflict on a poor and remote area in the Donegal Gaeltacht. I know the Minister represents a Gaeltacht area and would have an understanding of the devastation that such a decision would cause at this time of unemployment and economic difficulties there. I personally appeal to him to reject this proposal and to allow the station to continue. It has been renovated and hundreds of thousands of pounds have been spent on renovating it. Parts have been brought from various other areas and the station is almost as good as new. I cannot see why it should not continue for another ten or 20 years.
