“NO MONSTER WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN NORTH COUNTY DUBLIN, MINISTER” DEMANDS RYAN
In a special Dáil
debate today Brendan Ryan, Labour Party T.D., for Dublin North, called on the Minister for Environment, Phil Hogan to engage
with the communities of North Dublin to seek alternatives to the proposal for a monster wastewater Treatment Plant.
“The
communities of North County Dublin have mobilised in an unprecedented manner to voice their resounding opposition to the proposed
Monster Waste Water Treatment Plant planned for North County Dublin.”
Deputy Ryan explained why the people of North
County Dublin are opposed to such a project, “First of all there are the very valid environmental considerations: The
proposed Monster plant would process up to 1000 litres of sewerage per minute from Dublin and surrounding counties similar
to the capacity of the Ringsend plant in Dublin. The negative impact the Ringsend plant has had on the environment of the
surrounding landscape and seascape in Dublin Bay has been well documented.
“The traffic created by the construction
of a monster plant in North Dublin would be intolerable on the narrow country roads of the region. Not to mention the traffic
caused by the removal of the solid waste from the plant once it is up and running, with some estimates stating it would require
40 trucks per hour to remove the sludge from the plant.
“Many people forget that North County Dublin is a combination
of towns and large rural areas which grow fruit, vegetable and flowers. It is the ‘market garden of Ireland’ with
60% of our horticulture produce being grown in the area. To quote one constituent of mine, who wished to have her objection
read into the public record, “Who would buy food grown near a monster sewerage plant?”
“The people of
North County Dublin are organising. They are not going to stand for this monster sewage plant. There is cross community and
cross party opposition to this proposal and the arguments against it are sound. The alternatives to it, like the one I propose
for smaller regional plants coping with local waste, are also sound. I asked the Minister today for a commitment to revisit
this proposal. The people of North County Dublin demand a change in policy from Fingal County Council and the Department of
Environment on this matter and I fully support them.”
Minister Hogan was represented in the Dáil by Minister for
Agriculture Simon Coveney who recognised the conviction with which Deputy Ryan made his case on behalf of the people of North
Dublin. Minister Coveney delivered a response on behalf of Minister Hogan stating it was inappropriate for the Minister Hogan
to comment on this proposal at this stage, as it may prejudice the role of the Department of the Environment, when it will
have a statutory role to play further along in the process. Deputy Ryan was unimpressed with this response and called for
strong executive leadership at Ministerial level before the process continues on its current path.
ENDS
Brendan Ryan 01 618 3421
