MORE THAN 500 midlands-based jobs could be created as a result of separate announcements by Bord na Móna and Minister for Enterprise Batt O’Keeffe yesterday.
The vast majority of the jobs, however, will not be in place for several years.
Bord na Móna has been granted planning permission to build a €450 million gas-fired power plant at Derrygreenagh, Co Offaly.
While the decision is expected to create 450 jobs during the construction phase and a further 35 permanent jobs on completion, Bord na Móna says it could be 2014 before work begins on the plant.
The company’s chief executive, Gabriel D’Arcy, said the granting of planning approval was a “major milestone” towards bringing the project to fruition.
“However, there are still a number of hurdles to be cleared, including obtaining a grid connection offer and an IPPC licence for the power station. The completion of these associated consents processes will dictate when the project can progress to the construction stage,” he said.
The development forms part of Bord na Móna’s long-term strategy to develop a portfolio of generating assets, including wind farms and complementary flexible thermal plants.
The company has had an office, stores and workshop complex at Derrygreenagh since the 1950s. Existing activities are to be relocated to another Bord na Móna premises prior to the development of the new station.
It is the second gas-fired plant to be approved in Co Offaly in a month. Lumcloon Energy received permission to build a 350MW facility at the site of the old Ferbane ESB plant in mid-March.
Elsewhere in the midlands, Mr O’Keeffe announced the creation of 40 new jobs in Mullingar, Co Westmeath yesterday. The jobs have been created by web design firm Brywest Enterprises through farmersforum.ie.
The Minister said 15 of the new employees have been training with Fás in Mullingar as part of a specially-designed course created in association with Brywest Enterprises.
Brywest launched farmersforum.ie last September. The site was designed as a resource for farmers and those employed in the agricultural sector.
Features of the portal include an online vet, current nationwide mart prices, weather reports, an event calendar, information on agri-tourism, agri-food updates and a free classifieds section.