Another failure by private sector highlights the strength of the public sector
WP President Michael Donnelly
The Workers’ Party President, Michael Donnelly, called on the government to allow the ESB Group, through Eirgrid, to take over the construction of the Mayo Renewable Power generation station at Killala saying that once again the private sector had been found wanting.
Mr. Donnelly said that the stalling of the project by Mayo Renewable Power, shows that the private sector cannot be relied upon to deliver essential infrastructural projects and would always put its own interests before those of the Irish people.
The plant will be privately owned by a joint Irish /US consortium and operated by multinational Veolia which has also been heavily involved in projects such as water services and the Dublin Luas tramway.
Artists impression of new power plant at Kilala
“This should be a warning that the state must retain control over essential utilities such as electricity, water and the harnessing of our natural resources. The history of the ESB since 1927 has shown its resilience and its ability to deliver not only key infrastructural projects but also substantial financial dividends to the state and the Irish people”, said Mr. Donnelly.
“The Mayo Renewable Power plant is a new generation electricity generating plant which will run on biomass and supply power to around 70,000 homes in the region. The ongoing programme to break up and sell off the ESB prevented that proven company from carrying out the project and other similar ones. This bias against the state sector must now end and the ESB should be reinstated as a central driver of the Irish economy into the future”, said the Workers’ Party President.