There were renewed calls this week for the controversial Derrybrien Wind Farm to be reactivated to provide power to householders – but also to provide a cash boost to the local community.

Cllr Geraldine Donohue said that the Wind Farm should be switched back on and benefits be provided for local residents.

“It is a state-of-the-art development that should be utilised,” she added.

The independent councillor explained that in 2021 a total of 20 neighbouring communities received grant funding under the Wind Farm Community Fund she claims that such vital funding enabled great community projects to get off the ground.

The Wind Farm Community Fund was established by the ESB and their joint venture partners Galetech Energy, Greencoat and Enercon.

The fund over the years helped communities close to wind farms to become more sustainable through the support of positive local initiatives and activities.

According to Cllr Donohue, the scrapping of the wind farm was a bad move and should be reversed given the climate challenges the country faces.

She said that a funding pot of €60,000 would be lost to the area once the Derrybrien wind farm is decommissioned.

“The fund over the years helped communities in close proximity to wind farms to become more sustainable through the support of positive local initiatives and activities.

“The fund enabled brighter possibilities for local residents groups. Given the fact that it is there, it should be switched back on in the current energy crisis,” said Cllr Donohue.

She referred to groups that benefited from the wind farm including local development associations, national schools, GAA clubs and local cancer support groups.

Cllr Donohue said the Wind Farm Community Funds assisted 20 community projects groups and if the fund was now to be scrapped and she has now asked who will step in to fund similar projects in the future.

“Derrybrien has to have a future but by fully decommissioning the plant is not a sustainable option. Given the current energy crisis, it has to be switched back on.

Cllr Donohue has called for the establishment of a collaborative forum, working closely with Government departments, state agencies and public representatives to plan for the future of Derrybrien.

“The current energy crisis and the opportunities for Derrybrien to provide sustainable energy have to be a key focus of such a collative forum,” the Loughrea area councillor added.