Cahersiveen power station not to close, ESB tells workers

December 1991

THE ESB this week denied a claim that it is planning to close the Deelis power generating station in Cahersiveen where 15 people are employed.

The claim was made by ATGWU assistant secretary of its ESB branch Denis Rohan following the ESB’s refusal to make four temporary workers at the station permanent.

Mr Rohan said the ESB was not prepared to give any commitment about the future of the plant beyond two or three years.

“They are not prepared to confirm that they are going to close it down, but that is the only conclusion that I could take, ” said Mr Rohan

He claimed this is the first step in the closure of the Deelis station following a meeting of his union with the ESB regarding the positions of four temporary workers at Cahersiveen

This, was denied by ESB spokesman John Howard who said that “The station has been operating very well and as of now the board does not have plans to close the station,”

He added that demand for electricity was continually growing and the ESB needed all the generating stations it has.

The four workers at the centre of the ATGWU’s claim have been employed on a temporary basis on contracts of up to 18 months and the ATGWU claims the four are filling permanent positions.

The union will now soon be making its case for the permanent appointment of the four employees to the ESB’s Joint Industrial Council.