Hopes of averting the closure of Ferbane power station and the loss of 300 jobs rose last night. The Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, said the immediate resolution of a long-running interunion dispute at the Co Offaly plant could lead to a reversal of the ESB management decision.
She said "a window of opportunity" existed to save the plant before the ESB board meets on October 16th to make a final decision on its future. In that time she hoped "peer pressure and public pressure" would make "common sense prevail".
Some 114 jobs are almost certain to be lost in south-west Offaly if the ESB decides to cancel a £16 million refurbishment for the ageing plant. The decision shocked the local community dependent on the ESB plant and its neighbouring supply bog for employment.
Three instrumentation technicians are at the centre of a dispute over new work practices. However, it is understood that only one of them remains opposed to changes, without which the plant has no future. He has so far resisted sustained political and local pressure.
However, the national organiser of the MSF union, Mr Joe Bowers, who represents the technicians, claimed yesterday that the ESB wanted to close the station. The company had rejected an MSF offer to enter into binding arbitration on outstanding difficulties at the power station almost two months ago.
Speaking at a press conference in Tullamore, Mr Ted Dalton, managing director of power generation with the ESB, said the failure of a small minority of staff to implement more flexible work practices meant the station could not survive in a competitive market.
July live register figures revealed that the local social welfare office in Birr recorded a 38 per cent increase in numbers signing on over the preceding year.