Bord na Móna lay-offs a huge blow to workers and their families – Flaherty

Fianna Fáil General Election Candidate and Longford Town Cllr, Joe Flaherty, has said news of 150 lay-offs at the Bord na Móna Mount Dillon Plant is a devastating blow to workers, their families and the wider community.

Cllr Flaherty was commenting as it was confirmed that there will be 78 lay-offs which will take immediate effect, followed by another 70 next week. This is as a result of the suspension of operations at the Lough Ree Power Plant in Lanesborough after concerns were raised over hot water discharges into the River Shannon nearby.

Cllr Flaherty said, “At the crux of this situation is the fact that the ESB have been very complacent in allowing the problem with the hot water discharges to manifest. The situation of the cooling water discharge temperature is more or less the same since the plant was commissioned in 2004. Yet it is the workers and their families who have to deal with the consequences now – it’s totally unacceptable.

“As a native of Lanesborough I know what an impact this will have on the area. I know many of the workers and their families and they are in a state of shock. In the absence of information, they are left wondering what happens next.

“Bord na Móna has been a major catalyst in the economic growth and development of Longford. It was a visionary company and it brought workers from the four corners of Ireland to live and work here and they in turn-built communities in Lanesborough and the surrounding areas. It’s horrible to see them treated in this way.

“I understand that Bord na Móna will be diversifying over the coming years. There is a plan in place, but they must be allowed the time to transition. All supports available should be provided to the workers and their families during this difficult time”, he concluded.