Concerns For Future Of Bord na Mona Littleton Plant Increasing – Mattie McGrath
Independent TD Mattie McGrath has called on the Minister of Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten to confirm that he will commit to the future of the Bord na Mona plant at Littleton in County Tipperary. Deputy McGrath was speaking after Bord na Móna confirmed it is carrying out a comprehensive review of its briquetting operations at two plants in the midlands after a decrease in sales led to new fears over the future of 130 jobs:
“Tipperary has taken several major hits in the last year and this latest threat is simply not acceptable.
Bord na Mona are telling us the review process of operations in Littleton in Co Tipperary will take into account a range of factors impacting on current and future production, but we know that without a subvention or a carbon tax derogation for Bord na Móna it will not survive in its current form.
When you think that this government has spent over €702 million on Renewable Energy Schemes since 2011 then it makes the argument for a diversion of a portion of this funding toward a subvention even stronger.
This is particularly true given that for the year 2016/17 alone the government will spend €270 million on various forms of renewable energy schemes, and much of that is on developing wind energy which is deeply opposed in rural Ireland.
Bord na Mona and the workers at the Littleton site need urgent protection and seriously proactive measures before its closure becomes just another fait accompli that the Minister throws his hands up at,” concluded Deputy McGrath.
