Dublin People - Councillors reject motion to suspend work

Home

News

Latest News

Councillors reject motion to suspend work

Tuesday, 16 September 2008

Councillors in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown have voted to reject a motion that would have delayed the e70 million upgrade of the waste water treatment plant at Shanganagh that has been blamed for the recent deterioration in water quality at Killiney beach.
Following the council meeting on Monday, September 8, the European Court of Justice found that Ireland was in breach of an EU directive on the provision of waste water treatment plants, one of which was the Shanganagh facility.
At the council meeting, Cllr John Bailey (FG) tabled a motion, which if passed, could have forced the local authority to prepare a new environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project. This would have considerably delayed the scheme.
The local authority has been planning to upgrade the Shanganagh wastewater treatment plant since 2001. The council recently blamed problems at the facility as being partly responsible for the loss of Killiney Beach's Blue Flag.
The scheme would include the upgrading of the plant as well as the building of a transfer pipeline between Shanganagh and Bray in County Wicklow, where there would also be an underground storm water storage tank.
But locals in Shankill, through which the proposed pipeline would be built, have objected, claiming the selected route for the construction traffic would represent a health and safety hazard.
In addition, those opposed to the scheme maintain that the original EIS carried out by the council in 2001, failed to include the pipeline, the storm holding tank at Bray and the traffic aspects of the plan.
Speaking at the council meeting, Cllr Bailey said that in 1981 and again in 2000 the European Commission asked the council to carry out an environmental assessment at Shanganagh.
“This council failed to get a licence for Shanganagh and this case is coming before the European courts,” he said.
The director of services in the council’s environment department, Frank Austin, said a valid EIS was already in place for the project.
Embark
He added that the local authority would have had to seek legal advice if councillors passed the motion proposed by Cllr Bailey.
“To embark on a new EIS in respect of this project at this stage will delay the provision of the new waste water treatment works for a period of years and ensure our continuing non compliance with the provision of the urban waste water directive,” Mr Austin said.
“The motion is not required and should not be passed. The proposed resolution if passed would require expenditure for which there is no funding provision.”
After a lengthy debate, councillors were reassured that there would be an independent assessment of the proposed traffic management plans for the construction period of the upgrade works.
Council management also said the project would begin before the end of the year, ensuring full compliance with all national and EU legislation.
It was agreed that in order to ensure a reduction in construction traffic, the contractor would be required to examine all options available for minimising the removal of spoil from the site.
Last week, the European Court of Justice ruled against Ireland in a case concerning a failure to comply with the Urban Waste Water Directive in six areas, including Shanganagh.
The directive aims to protect the environment from the adverse effects of urban waste water discharges.
Ireland did not contest the fact that it had failed to comply with Directive 91/271/EEC in relation to five of the areas - Bray, Co Wicklow; Letterkenny, Co Donegal; Shanganagh, Co Dublin; Sligo and Tramore, Co Waterford.
The European Urban Waste Water Directive requires mandates monitoring the performance of treatment plants and receiving waters; controls of sewage sludge disposal and re-use, and treatment of waste water re-use whenever it is appropriate.

'We wanted life for life'

Tuesday, 18 November 2008

Paul Hickey, who is originally from Darndale, appeared before a Spanish court last week, where he was found guilty of the charge of homicidio - a lesser offence than murder - for the brutal death...
+ Full Story

Disabled waiting months for lift repair

Tuesday, 18 November 2008

Parts that are needed to ensure the operation of the lift at the John Paul II Park Sports Complex are in transit from Canada to Ireland, according to Dublin City Council. Following complaints...
+ Full Story

Education cuts may force pupils out

Tuesday, 18 November 2008

St Vincent’s School in Glasnevin is facing a future of uncertainty as it assesses the knock-on effect of the cost cutting measures. Principal Tim Hurley explained how the all-boys’...
+ Full Story

Locals pull together to bring David home

Tuesday, 18 November 2008

David Cahill suffered a severe panic attack, which triggered a massive heart attack, on the first day of his holiday in Crete on September 27. Doctors believed he suffered brain damage as a result...
+ Full Story