ESB station closure to cost 129 jobs

THE ESB decision to close its generating station at Tarbert, on the Shannon Estuary, came as a shock to the north Kerry and west Limerick areas last night.

The closure, due to take place in 2010, will result in the loss of 129 jobs.

Workers at the oil-fired station were being briefed about the decision and offered redeployment opportunities last night.

The station, in operation since 1969, is a major employer in an area which has seen little industrial growth and has suffered major job losses.

Located on the Kerry bank of the estuary, the four-turbine station has a 398 ft chimney height, which dominates the area, and a 632 MV generating capacity.

Fine Gael Kerry North TD Jimmy Deenihan described the decision to shut the station as devastating for the area.

He claimed the Shannon Estuary has been ‘wholly neglected’ by Fianna Fáil/PD Government, which had dropped an inter-agency group set up by Fine Gael to develop the region.

“The decision to shut down in 2010 comes as devastating news for north Kerry and the surrounding areas, such as west Limerick,” Deputy Deenihan said.

The ESB has already closed its other generating station in Kerry a turf-fired facility at Deelis, near Caherciveen.