Work must immediately begin to find new investor for Moneypoint offshore development

  • Equinor pulls out of ESB partnership
  • Hope still on the horizon for offshore windfarm

 

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe is calling on the ESB and the government to immediately put their heads together and find a replacement partner for the offshore wind development planned for near Moneypoint in West Clare.

Norwegian firm Equinor has pulled out of the Irish market, having previously reached an agreement with the ESB to develop a major 1.4GW wind farm using floating technology, at a cost of €2 billion.

“Whilst it’s very disappointing that Equinor have withdrawn from their partnership with the ESB to develop the offshore Green Atlantic windfarm, I think the project can still very much proceed,” said Deputy Crowe.

“It has been widely reported in the media today that the outdated planning and regulatory systems in Ireland pertaining to the development of offshore projects has been a major factor in Equinor’s withdrawal, but I don’t necessarily believe that this is the biggest reason.

“Currently, much of what happens along Irish coastlines is dictated by the Foreshore Act of 1933.

“This legislation is totally outdated and unfit for purpose and served this country at a time when it still had steam powered boats.

“For the last 18 months, a new piece of legislation to overhaul offshore projects Maritime Area Planning Bill has been working its way through the Houses of the Oireachtas and is now around six weeks away from being fully enacted.

“This piece of legislation will supersede the 1933 Act and ensure that Ireland has a planning and regulatory framework equal to, if not better, than most other EU states.

“Whilst we should all be very grateful to Equinor for progressing the Green Atlantic project to this stage, it must also be noted that they were happy to partner in this project at a time when a modern offshore planning regime was a mere pipeline dream.

“Now this legislation is only weeks away from being a reality.

“There are many other companies who I believe will find the project to be very attractive and I will be asking government and the ESB to immediately engage with some of these companies so that the project doesn’t encounter any delays.

“When developed, the Green Atlantic project will be a key component of Ireland providing more than 80% of its energy needs from renewables and getting out country closer to 2050 carbon reduction targets.

“From a Clare point of view, the project and Moneypoint breath new hope into a part of our county that was hugely concerned about the future of the Moneypoint Power Station.

“With coal burning operations being wound down, all hopes now rest on the transition to wind energy offshore.

“Beyond generating electricity from offshore wind turbines, Moneypoint will also be a centre of excellence for developing new wind turbine technologies which will be used not only in the locality but also nationally and globally.

“The withdrawal of Equinor certainly won’t bury this project but it’s imperative that every effort is now made to ensure that a new partner is found and the project proceeds as swiftly as possible.”

-ENDS-

Urgent intervention needed to reinstate Doolin Coastguard

  • Dispute has seen multiple resignations
  • Eamon Ryan must intervene in capacity as Minister

 

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe is calling for swift and immediate action to be taken by government to reinstate the Doolin Coastguard as a matter of urgency.

It follows news that the unit has been stood down, after the resignation of six volunteers with the service, meaning that the remaining members are unable to respond to emergency callouts.

“I’m calling on Minister Eamon Ryan to intervene in the matter of the closed Irish Coastguard station at Doolin,” said Deputy Crowe.

“Minister Ryan, in his role as Transport Minister, has supreme authority over the Irish Coastguard system and he needs to urgently intervene to ascertain the full nature of HR problems which has led to this breakdown and the resignation of volunteers.

“The Doolin coastguard base is one of the busiest in the country because it covers a large area of the Atlantic coast, including one of Ireland’s most visited sites – the Cliffs of Moher – and also the Aran Islands, the most populous island community in Ireland.

“The volunteers have given many years of excellent service and I know that many people involved in tourism and marine activities in west Clare are now very concerned that this essential base has been temporarily closed.

“It’s vital that there is expediency at this point to ensure that the matters which are central to this dispute are identified and resolved.

“We should highly value the men and women who put their lives at risk to keep others safe at sea and I intend to raise this matter during question time in the Dáil on Thursday afternoon.

“This matter cannot go unresolved.”

-ENDS-

 

Housing Update – November 3rd

Every Wednesday, I will update you here on the social houses that are available via Clare County Council.

As always, it is vital that you register with Clare County Council’s housing section for their Choice Based Letting site, where you are able to register your interest for a property. You can contact the housing section on (065) 6821616.

Please note: Some weeks, no properties come online and therefore there will be no housing update.

Clarecastle

Address: Church Drive, Clarecastle, Co. Clare

Details: Three-bed, end of terrace

PLEASE NOTE: TWO PROPERTIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR LETTING

BOTH AS FOLLOWS –

  • End of terrace 2-storey house
  • Kitchen/dining area
  • Sitting room
  • Three bedrooms
  • Bathroom
  • Heating: Oil central heating and back boiler stove
  • Front and back gardens
  • On-street parking

Ennis

Address: 3 Woodgrove, Cloughleigh, Ennis, Co. Clare

Details: Two-bed, semi-detached bungalow

  • Semi-detached bungalow
  • Kitchen/dining area
  • Sitting room
  • Two bedrooms
  • Bathroom
  • Heating: Air to water (no provision for stove/oil in future)
  • Back garden with garden shed
  • On street parking

Newmarket-on-Fergus

Address: 109 Kilnasoolagh Park, Newmarket on Fergus, Co. Clare

Details: Three-bed, semi-detached

  • Semi-detached 2-storey house
  • Kitchen/dining area
  • Sitting room
  • Three bedrooms
  • Bathroom
  • Heating: Air to water (no provision for stove/oil in future)
  • Front and back gardens
  • On-street parking

Shannon

Address: 33 Inis Ealga, Shannon, Co. Clare

Details: Two-bed, end of terrace

  • End of terrace 2-storey house
  • Kitchen/dining area
  • Sitting room
  • Two bedrooms
  • Bathroom
  • Heating: Air to water (no provision for stove/oil in future)
  • Front and back gardens
  • Driveway

Shannon

Address: 45 Inbhear na Sionna, Shannon, Co. Clare

Details: Three-bed, detached

This property being made available through an Approved Housing Body, Cooperative Housing Ireland

  • Two storey detached house
  • Kitchen/dining area
  • Sitting room
  • Three bedrooms, one en-suite (with shower)
  • Bathroom (bath only)
  • Heating: Air to water
  • Back garden
  • Driveway

Shannon

Address: 90 Aidan Park, Shannon, Co. Clare

Details: Three-bed, terraced

25 Year Lease

  • Sitting room
  • Kitchen/dining room
  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bathroom (shower only)
  • Oil-fired central heating
  • Rear yard parking space