With regard to Section 4 Page 35 (4.24 Peatland Tourism)
Bord na Móna demonstrates the real benefits that can be realised through transitioning to a low carbon economy. While it is recognised that amenity and tourism can have economic benefits for the county through employment it must also be recognised that County Kildare has benefited from Bord na Móna’s transition in a number of ways. The company can confirm that as it has grown its sustainable business in the areas of recycling, renewable energy development and peatland rehabilitation, there has been a limited change in the numbers employed by Bord na Móna in Kildare. Employment figures bear this out with approximately 450 employed in the county in 2018, before the Brown to Green strategy was adopted and these jobs were in the majority related to non-peat harvesting activities, and ranged across the circular economy (Drehid, Siliot Hill, and the green composting facility in Kilberry), renewable energy development and back office support for these activities. With the exception of the reduction of employees in peat harvesting, we have roughly the same number employed in the company in Kildare in 2021 (circa 380 employees) across renewables, recycling and back office. This does not account for additional jobs that will materialise from renewable energy development (and associated amenity) such as the proposed windfarm in Ballydermot and consented solar farm in Timahoe North.
As part of the land transition programme, Bord na Móna is continually reviewing its property strategy to determine future industrial uses for the holdings. Whilst buildings such as workshops and stores comprise a small portion of the holding, these buildings present opportunities for the re-purposing of these facilities for new sustainable industries. The company has repurposed its former briquette production facility in Littleton in County Tipperary as a plastics recycling facility supporting 40 new jobs. Similar opportunities will exist for more of our facilities and in this regard benefitting the economy resulting in employment in the region.