‘Black day’ for Tarbert as power station set to close

THERE will be no forced redundancies at the ESB generating station in Tarbert, Co Kerry, which is to close in 2010 with the loss of 129 jobs, the ESB pledged yesterday.

It was learned from well-placed sources that there is little or no chance of a reversal of the closure decision.

Community leaders in the Shannon Estuary village reacted with shock and anger at the development, which took many people by surprise.

Kerry Irish Farmers’ Association chairman John Stack, whose group has members who also work at the station, said it was a black day for the area and the mood was glum.

“We must now work together try to save the power station and see if some renewable energy facility can be set up there. The building and equipment must be used to create jobs here,” he said.

“Wood chipping and other enterprises should be looked at. The closure comes as very bad news for the area in relation to employment, as people are also leaving the land.”

Mr Stack said the closure would have a ripple effect, as many small companies and service providers were dependant on the oil-fired station, which had been in operation since 1969 and had been upgraded in 1996.

ESB spokesman Kevin McDermott said the decision to close was taken as part of an asset strategy review of ESB stations countrywide.

“A decision on what to do with the site will be taken after the station has closed,” he said.

“There will be redeployment opportunities for staff members who do not wish to take redundancy.”

The closure became a political issue yesterday, with Kerry North TDs, Jimmy Deenihan, FG, and Martin Ferris, SF, saying the closure should not have come as a surprise as the area was being neglected by the Government for many years.

Kerry North FF TD Thomas McEllistrim said he was already in contact with Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin with a view to finding alternative jobs for the ESB workers.

Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue said he was confident a private-sector energy project would be set up in the Tarbert station.

He said Mr Martin was due to visit Tarbert on Monday, to make an announcement for a project on part of a Shannon Development-owned landbank in the area.

Mr O’Donoghue said the development would create a large number of jobs, including 300 during construction and a considerable number afterwards.