Tipperary County Council plan to make this old mine site a bio-energy campus

Tipperary County Council is eagerly awaiting a decision on a €5 million grant to develop the Lisheen site in Littleton into a bio-energy campus.

Director of Services for Economic, Community and Rural Development Brian Beck told councillors of the application at last week’s sitting of the Thurles-Templemore Municipal District Council.

Mr Beck said they are applying for one of two €5 million pots of money. And if the council’s application were successful, it would make Tipperary a leader in the industry in Ireland.

“If we get this it will be huge,” said Mr Beck.

He told the elected member that the council had recently purchased land on the site to develop a bio-energy centre.

This centre will allow ‘spin-off companies’ to be ‘incubated’ on site and develop on their own. All councillors present welcomed the news. Cathaoirleach of the district council, Cllr Sean Ryan, said it was ‘appropriate’ that the announcement be made while the council sits in Littleton.

He said that the closure of Bord na Mona cost 120 jobs, and so “it was great to see these initiatives.”

He called the new bio-campus a ‘a key piece’ in the area’s “economic arsenal.”

Cllr Ryan also said the site could support their educational hub hopes in Thurles, with the colleges working on projects on the new campus.

Cllr Seamus Hanafin complimented his district colleague Michéal Lowry and Chief Executive Joe MacGrath on their work to ensure the Lisheen development’s inclusion on the National Development Plan.

“I am very hopeful that the land and funding will come in the near future and ensure the future of Lisheen and the industry in the county.

Cllr Lowry said there are a lot of companies nationally and internationally ‘looking for a home,’ and this site could be it.

He said it has the potential to be ‘the envy’ of the country.

JUST TRANSITION

Just Transition is a European Union funded programme that supports regions most affected from the move away from fossil fuels. In Tipperary, these areas are Thurles and Carrick-On-Suir.

In Thurles, the fund supports communities affected by the closure of the mine at Lisheen and Bord na Mona.

“We are able to support job creation in the Lisheen area,” said Mr Beck.

While the decion on the funding was expected this week, it has been reported that it is delayed until January.