Bord Na Móna is to lay off 78 seasonal workers and temporarily lay off another 70 permanent workers at the Lough Ree and Lanesborough power plant site.
Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon-Galway, Eugene Murphy, has expressed his serious concerns.
He commented, “The news this morning is massively concerning for our area. Many of these seasonal workers are young college students trying to earn some money to get through college. The plant has been a great local employer so naturally this news is a very very serious concern.
“The decision by the ESB was taken on the back of legal proceedings commenced by the Environmental Protection Agency after high temperature cooling water was discharged into the River Shannon.
“I understand a meeting is taking place tomorrow with employees. I hope this meeting is entered into in good faith and this temporary closure is resolved.
“I will be raising this matter in the Dáil today and engaging with the Minister. We cannot have an indefinite closure of this power station. Any decision must be made with community involvement,” concluded Deputy Murphy.
(Pic via Wikipedia)
