Bord na Móna to create 300 jobs as it expands into renewable sector

BORD na Móna management yesterday played down talk of any “downsizing” at the company – as proposed by last week’s An Bord Snip Nua public sector pay review – by claiming it will double in size over the next five years and add at least 300 jobs over the coming two years.

The new jobs, for which recruitment has already begun, will cover green energy, resource recovery, renewable energy, community heating programmes and environmental products and services. The company – which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year – will also make what it calls “significant capital investments” in a number of horticultural, environmental and electricity-based products and services in the coming years. Capital expenditure amounted to €29.3 million last year.

Yesterday, Bord na Móna reported a 6% increase in operating profit to €23.8m for the 12 months to the end of last March. Turnover grew by 8% to €401.6m and a dividend of €12.9m was paid to shareholders – which now include the Government and the company’s own staff, following the implementation of its employee share ownership plan at the end of last year.