ESB allocates €½m towards jobs projects

THE ESB yesterday announced a €500,000 fund to help the community in Caherciveen, Co Kerry, find alternative projects following the closure of the Deelis power station.

The fund is designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the area, which has also suffered serious job losses in manufacturing.

The turf-burning station, which employed between 15 and 20 people, was opened in 1957 and closed in July 2003.

“The Cahirciveen Community Fund is designed to encourage both community and enterprise development in the areas affected by closure of the plant,” said an ESB spokesman.

Projects to be supported should have the capacity to create employment and be of long-term benefit to the area, he said.

A proposal already put forward by Iveragh Co-op is that the Deelis plant should be used for the production of environmentally friendly wood pellets.

A board of directors will oversee the distribution of the fund and it will includes locals councillors, Paul O’Donoghue, Michael Cahill, Michael Healy-Rae, Michael Connor Scarteen and Johnny O’Connor.

Also on the board will be representatives of local community groups and officials of Kerry County Council.

The ESB also moved to assure the public there were no health risks from a fire at the Deelis plant, yesterday.

Asbestos sheeting was being removed from the building at the time of the fire and some material was blown onto a neighbouring farmer’s land.

Meanwhile, the ESB has given an assurance that services in the Listowel area will not suffer because of the forthcoming closure of the company’s depot in the town.

ESB representatives have met Listowel Town Council representatives, following complaints by Kerry mayor Ned O’Sullivan.