Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020
112. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the status work within his Department to identify land and facilities which could be of interest for alternative green enterprises in the midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27381/20]
View answerThe first progress report of the Just Transition Commissioner, Mr Kieran Mulvey, published on 22 May, reflects a comprehensive engagement with relevant stakeholders in the Midlands, setting out the analysis of the challenges facing the region, and for Bord na Móna workers, their families and communities, arising from an accelerated exit from peat harvesting. The report contains important recommendations. The Government is already acting on a number of these and is committed to preparing an implementation plan to address the remainder, which I intend to publish in the coming weeks. The recommendations and associated actions will support job creation efforts and create new opportunities for Bord na Móna workers in the Midlands. In relation to the recommendation that relevant public bodies with a presence in the region identify land and facilities which could be of interest for alternative green enterprises, the Government’s initial response to the Commissioner’s report noted the extensive range of green energy projects underway or proposed in the Midlands, including the Lumcloon battery storage project, the Rhode Energy Business Park, and several other developments by Bord na Mona, the ESB and others. This initial response committed to further engagement with State agencies and enterprises to identify land and facilities which could be used for further such projects.
A number of other actions, already underway, will also support the objective of this recommendation.
Following a commitment in the Programme for Government, a feasibility study into the establishment of a Green Energy Hub, using the existing infrastructure in the West Offaly and Lough Ree power plants, has now commenced. This is being overseen by a Steering Group chaired by the ESB, and includes representatives of my Department, relevant Local Authorities, and the Just Transition Commissioner. I expect that this work will be concluded by the end of this year.
The Government has committed €15 million, as part of the July Stimulus Plan, in order to commence a multi-year programme to rehabilitate 33,000 hectares of Bord na Móna peatlands. This funding will support a just transition by maintaining jobs in the Midlands, as well as laying the foundation for more substantial and sustainable job creation into the future. The enhanced rehabilitation scheme will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by significantly increasing the area of wetland habitats in post-production peatlands. Further additional benefits include increasing biodiversity, improving water quality and supporting bog eco-system services.
My Department’s call for proposals under the Just Transition Fund for innovative projects that contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the Wider Midlands region, and which have employment and enterprise potential, has identified a number of possible opportunities for collaboration between public bodies and private enterprises. My Department published an initial list of sixteen successful projects on 9 September and additional projects will be approved shortly. The outcome of this project evaluation process will inform my Department’s approach to further engagement with relevant state bodies and the future roles for relevant Local Authorities and for the Midlands Regional Transition Team in this context.
