€3.3m funding for council following Shannonbridge closure

Offaly County Council has been allocated €3.3million in funding to help compensate for the loss of commercial rates arising from the closure of West Offaly Power in Shannonbridge.

The ESB station accounted for roughly 20% of the council’s annual rates income and the sudden closure of the station at the end of this year was expected to significantly impact on council finances.

However, this morning, Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning Peter Burke announced that the Government was providing funding of €3.3million to Offaly County Council in 2021 and €1.4million to Longford County Council, which is to be impacted by the closure of the Lough Ree Power plant in Lanesborough.

Minister Burke said: “This funding is being provided to the two local authorities in the context of the impending closure of power plants in both Counties at the end of 2020. The package of funding recognises the serious impact that these closures will have on the commercial rates income for the authorities in question.”

“In 2020, the Government has already made €900million available to local authorities to enable a full rates waiver. This Government support has been critical in terms of supporting local businesses but also in terms of supporting local authorities deliver key services to communities in their local areas.

Minister Burke added: “I am delighted today to confirm to both Offaly County Council and Longford County Council that funding of €4.7million is being provided in 2021 to support the work of these two local authorities, having regard to the closure of power plants in both authority areas. Minister O’Brien and I have been working with Minister McGrath in recent weeks to secure this funding and I have no doubt that the funding in question will make a huge difference and will support the delivery of key services for the communities in both these counties”.