Prospect of community fund for Shannonbridge area raised

The former Just Transition Commissioner has raised the prospect of a community fund from the ESB for the Shannonbridge area.

In his fourth and final progress report as Just Transition Commissioner, written in December and published last month, Kieran Mulvey said he had agreed with the ESB the principle of such a contribution to the area, and to Lanesborough.

“While I am glad to hear that ESB intends developing both sites, the issue of community gain for both Lanesborough and Shannonbridge communities has still to be resolved,” he wrote in the report.

“I had agreed in principle a contribution from ESB to both communities some time ago, but due to internal requirements within ESB this still has to be approved by the management and Board.

“ESB has already contributed €5 million to the Just Transition process, which went to the Just Transition Fund, and this is greatly appreciated. At another time, however, this contribution might have gone directly to the communities, like for example in the case of Rhode or Ferbane.”

He said he was glad to report that ESB had agreed to immediately consider supporting two local community projects in Shannonbridge and Lanesborough “as an interim community gain measure”.

He said he expect the agreement he had reached with the company would be delivered as soon as possible.

The ESB was asked to comment on the situation and issued a statement which did not make any reference to a specific community fund.

Instead, it said it was working Offaly County Council to examine the possibility that certain buildings on the site could be retained for community use.

The ESB said it remained commitment to the Midlands through the development of two projects involving cutting-edge technologies at both Midland station sites in Lanesborough and Shannonbridge.

It noted that planning applications were lodged recently to develop both sites as renewable energy centres.

The statement continued: “ESB remains committed to the Midlands through the development of these projects, its €5m contribution to the Just Transition fund and its Networks operations which employ over 400 highly skilled engineers and technicians in the region.

“ESB continues to work with the local authorities to examine the possibility that the development plans for the sites currently being drawn up by ESB planning teams would retain certain buildings for use by community groups. ESB also continues to work with the relevant Authorities and local interest groups on a range of community benefit initiatives.”