430 FACE THE AXE IN BORD NA MONA CUTS

Job losses and bog closures part of bid to take on climate change

UP to 430 jobs will be lost as part of a major restructuring at Bord na Mona, it was announced yesterday.

The semi-state body approved a plan that will see 150 workers made redundant by next April.

The fossil fuel provider will close down 17 of its 62 active bogs immediately, while it is expected the rest will cease operations by 2025.

The move could result in more than 800 job losses across the Midlands over the next decade as the company moves away from carbon to more renewable sources of energy.

Bord na Mona chief Tom Donnellan, explained the cuts were made as the organisation adapts to the challenges posed by climate change.

He said: “It is one of the biggest challenges we are facing in this generation, so Bord na Mona has decided, as a fossil fuel provider, to face that head on.

“Today we are announcing a rapid reduction of our peat-based business and moving into the renewables, recyclable and more carbon-low jobs front.”

Sean Kelly MEP Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly called on the Government to use money that will be raised from auctioning Ireland’s carbon allowances to help support the workers hit hardest by the job losses.

He said: “Emissions from large power plants, such as the plants in Edenderry and Shannonbridge, are regulated by the EU’S Emission Trading System which provides that the required permits to burn fossil fuels in the EU are auctioned on the market.

“These permits are getting more expensive, with the current price at around €20 per tonne of carbon emitted, up from around €7 this time last year, with the increase expected to continue.

“Ireland is moving towards a lowcarbon economy.

“It is vital this transition is fair and ensures nobody is left behind.

“I urge the Government to utilise this important fund that we fought to be included last year and assist those that are set to be most impacted.”