European Commission Says Ireland Must To More To Assist Moneypoint Workers

© Pat Flynn

The European Commission has suggested that Ireland needs to do more to assist workers affected by the winding down of operations at Moneypoint Power Station.

In its latest country report on Ireland, the Commission highlights the issues associated with the transition away from coal burning at Moneypoint, saying it will affect around 750 workers in Clare.

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It has been long since known the burning of coal at Moneypoint was to end by 2025.

But changes there have come faster than many expected.

Over 100 jobs at the plant went last year in a move that was voted on and accepted by staff.

While reports this year show that in the early part of 2020, Moneypoint has generated only a fraction of the grid’s overall supply, well down on previous years.

In a new country report on Ireland, the European Commission talks about the challenges associated with a ‘Just Transition’ to a climate neutral economy.

Highlighting the midlands, where peat burning is ending, and Moneypoint, it states the moves will affect a large number of workers – 750 of them in Clare.

The report also states, however, that the transition has the potential to provide new job opportunities but suggests that more supports are needed, by saying workers will need re-skilling and up-skilling.