Environment Minister Denis Naughten has been urgently called to meet with SIPTU union members at Bord na Mona (BNM) to discuss the future of employees at the firm's power stations.

Around 1,300 workers jobs are under threat in the midlands and the High Court granted a stay to three BNM subsidiary companies allowing them to continue operations at the peat burning plants pending a decision by An Bord Pleanála on their future.

SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Regan, said: "The continuing uncertainty about the long-term future of the plants is causing immense strain to hundreds of workers and their families. Closure of the Edenderry plant, run by Edenderry Power Ltd., would lead directly to 250 to 300 job losses. The two other peat burning power stations in the Midlands are also under threat, which means up to 1,300 other direct jobs could be at risk while many more people also depend on the BNM operations for their livelihoods.

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"SIPTU members are confident that BNM, of which Edenderry Power is a wholly owned subsidiary, does have a viable plan and long term strategy for the plant. The plan envisages the development of a biomass industry which will replace its traditional peat energy business by 2030. Biomass use in the Edenderry plant is currently at 35% (350,000 tonnes) and will rise to 50% (500,000 tonnes) by 2020 while the company intends to continue to reduce the use of peat thereafter."

(CD/LM)