Fine Gael only party with plan for Bord na Móna Workers – Corcoran Kennedy

•€11m Just Transition fund in 2020 central to FG’s proposals for Midlands

Fine Gael is the only party with a plan that will protect workers in the Midlands, according to Fine Gael TD Marcella Corcoran Kennedy.

Ms Corcoran Kennedy said: “We are committed to a just transition plan, which centres upon jobs and retraining opportunities. Fine Gael is the only party to have actually put forward a just transition plan, which sets out:

• The ring-fencing of 1/3 of the carbon tax for the Midlands in 2020 to support home retrofitting (400 jobs direct and indirect), bog re-wetting by the National Parking and Wildlife Service (up to 100 jobs), and a €11m Just Transition Fund

• We will invest €80m to restore Bord na Móna bogs (through a PSO levy) over the next 4 years, supporting 200 jobs.

• We have appointed Kieran Mulvey as the country’s first just transition commissioner. He is engaging with all stakeholders in the region and will report back to government

In addition, Ms Corcoran Kennedy said, Bord na Móna themselves are transforming.

“The best way we can ensure that the workers of Bord na Mona, and those who have retired from Bord na Mona, are protected is to make sure that Bord na Mona is a driving force for regional and economic development in the Midlands. The next phase of Bord na Móna’s own plan will see a €1.6 billion development programme that will benefit the Midlands.

“Other parties seem to be all bark when it comes to Bord na Mona. No other party has published any plan for Bord na Mona. We need to re-purpose the PSO this year to ensure 200 jobs are protected and that we invest €80m in bog rehabilitation in the next four years. Do other parties support this?

“I will be working with Fine Gael’s five MEPs to ensure that the Midlands is prioritised as part of the upcoming EU Just transition package. The Midlands must benefit. Following Minister Richard Bruton engaged with the EU Commission in 2019 and ensured that the Midlands was included in the Coal Platform in Transition.

“Where is Fianna Fáil’s just transition plan? What money would they invest and where? The Fianna Fáil manifesto doesn’t even mention the Midlands or Bord na Móna. There is no detail and no commitment. They cannot be trusted to help workers.

“How can anyone trust Fianna Fáil to deliver, given their past record and their complete lack of plan? For Fine Gael, just transition means jobs for the workers affected. We have the plan. We are the only ones who can be trusted to deliver.”