Council asked to seek meeting with Bord na Móna bosses over job losses

Kildare Co Council has been requested to arrange a meeting with Bord na Móna over 430 job losses announced in October.

Cllr Sean Power said that in view of the impact that Bord na Móna's plans will have in the Newbridge and Kildare municipal district and across the county, the local authority should 'seek a meeting with the management of Bord na Móna'.

The issue will be raised at the local municipal meeting next week.

At the end of October, Bord na Móna  announced that up to 430 workers are to be made redundant, with up to 150 expected to go by Easter next year.

The job losses followed a decision by the company to close 17 of its 62 active bogs immediately, with harvesting at the remaining 45 bogs expected to stop by 2025.

Bord na Móna Chief Executive Tom Donnellan said the decision has been made necessary because of the need to decarbonise energy sources in response to climate change.

SIPTU said it was shocked by the scale of job losses proposed by the company.