The possibility of delaying the closure of the Littleton Bord na Mona plant could be in the pipeline
Following a meeting with Tipperary’s five TDs the Energy Minister didn’t reject the suggestion and added that his department is actively looking for an alternative employer for the site.
Today’s meeting between the county’s Oireachtas representatives and Minister Denis Naughten comes in the wake of Bord na Mona’s decision to wind down operations at the Littleton briquette factory next April with the loss of 69 full time jobs while a further 56 peat harvesting positions are in doubt.
The move left staff outraged and Union representatives have threatened strike action – they are seeking to hold talks with Minister Naughton on the issue.
Today the county’s TDs put three requests to the Minister – One to delay the closure of the mid tipp briquette factory for at least 2 to 3 years to allow for a proper wind down and an alternative employer to be found – Two – seeking a commitment from Minister Naughton that they would step up efforts in this regard and three to look at the current redundancy pkg in place.
The deputies say the meeting was very positive and that Denis Naughton was not opposed to a delay to the closure once a proper submission was made to Bord na Mona – he also pointed out that his department was actively seeking an alternative company before last week’s announcement and that he would also look at the redundancy difficulties but this might require a renegotiation of the deal.
