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'Midlands Power Stations Would Be Open If Left To Government' - Leo Varadkar

Friday, 29 October 2021 07:20

By Ellen Butler X @LN_but

He's also downplaying the possibility of blackouts in Ireland.

The West Offaly and Lough Ree Power Stations would still open if left to the government.

That's according to Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, as Ireland faces into potential energy blackouts this winter.

The two power stations in Shannonbridge and Lanesborough were shut last December, following a High Court ruling that peat harvesting on bogs larger than 30 hectares would require planning permission.

However, it's left people across the midlands scratching their heads, as the country prepares for potential electricity shortages in the months ahead.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar thinks the power stations were closed prematurely:

I think its an important thing to say it was the government's decision to do so.

If it was up to us we would have kept them running for another year or two but that wasn't possible because of decisions in the courts rather than decisions of government. 

The Tánaiste also hasn't ruled out the possibility of the plants playing a role in the provision of electricity in the future - as part of a renewable energy auction next year:

Minister Ryan is going to go ahead with a new auction in the new year.

Whether those stations are going to be used for that I don't know, but it is possible for anyone to put forward a bid for that auction and get those rights to generate more electricity.

Mr. Varadkar is playing down the chances of blackouts this winter though, now that Huntstown Power Station in Dublin is back online.

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