The county received a timely employment boost with the announcement that an estimated 8,000 new jobs will be created across Galway in ‘green energy’ projects over the next five years.
 

The jobs will be created in the manufacturing, services and administrative sectors and will coincide with the development of major energy generating projects.
 

The project was announced by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) that it would be embarking on a five-year drive that would deliver billions of euro worth of savings to consumers.
 

This will involve the generation of electricity though a number of environmentally friendly sources while promoting the reduction of household and business energy bills.
 

And it has been stated that the counties along the west coast will play a strategic part in this plan and will result in the creation of thousands of jobs.
 

In Galway alone, there are predictions that some 8,000 jobs will be created and this will come as a major boost to a county where there are currently over 23,500 on the dole.
 

Currently the SEAI administers the Home Energy Saving Scheme which provides grants to householders who wish to carry out energy saving improvements.
 

The scheme has been an extremely successful one in that it has also provided much needed employment for those who have been made redundant from the construction industry.
 

It is expected that this scheme will be broadened over the coming five years and will in turn provide more employment opportunities for plumbers, electricians, roofers and others involved in the building trade.
 

Under the newly announced plan, it is also hoped to provide more wind farm on more exposed parts of Connemara in particular.
 

One of the more radical projects planned is the harnessing of the waters on the River Corrib which could provide one or two megawatts of power.
 

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune