Local Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley has led a Sinn Féin party delegation in a meeting with the senior management team of Bord Na Móna this week.
The party hold regular meetings with the CEO Tom Donnellan and the management team, discussing the company’s strategy for jobs, sustainable energy, and benefits for Midland communities.
“Sinn Féin view this as important, due to Bord na Móna being a publicly owned State company with huge resources here in the Midlands and the fact that it now aims to provide a quarter of the State’s electricity from renewable sources,” Deputy Stanley said.
“One of the main issues I raised with them is the future of the Cúil Na Móna Plant at Togher, Portlaoise, along with the three bogs in Laois Cúil na Móna, Coolnacartan and Cashel.”
The company employed over 300 people at any given time in County Laois during the 1960’s and right through to the 1990’s.
Deputy Stanley said he used the meeting to “press the case for employment creation” in Laois and “the need for community gain through recreational, leisure and tourism amenities.”
“The CEO responded positively to our proposals for a greenway walking trail along the existing narrow gauge rail line that connects Cúil na Móna Bog through to the Factory at Togher,” Deputy Stanley said.
“They are very open to proposals for such a project and agreed to explore it further.
“I also raised the possibility of keeping a section of the rail line in place for a rail tourism project. This has some potential in terms of forming part of a cluster of visitor attractions in Laois.
“Tom Donnellan assured us that the partnership with the ICL Company to remove the remaining peat that’s already harvested on the bogs, remains on track.
“This will facilitate rewetting of the bogs for carbon sequestration and along with having positive environmental benefits, it will also create a small number of jobs.”
It should be noted that the ICL Company referenced above is an Israeli fertiliser company.
“Laois has had little so far by way of a ‘just transition’ from peat harvesting to green energy and this was pointed out to the company management, Deputy Stanley continued.
“Landowners that adjoin the three bogs cooperated with the Bord to facilitate drainage works etc. What is needed now is for the company to keep this in mind in any future developments on their lands in Laois.
“Sinn Féin will continue to use our political influence to ensure that Bord na Móna and other semi state companies are kept in Public ownership and continue to provide jobs in Laois / Offaly.”
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