ESB workers to get payoff for EirGrid transfer

ESB workers are to be handed a bumper payoff to work for the new national grid operator.

The deal, costing millions of euro, will pave the way for EirGrid, a State-owned company, to take over responsibility for managing the national grid from the ESB.

Around 120 staff will receive up to €50,000 each to go and work for EirGrid, a dedicated body independent of the ESB, which is expected to be fully operational early in the New Year.