FF slams outrageous decision on Monster Sewerage Plant

Fianna Fáil is calling on the Environment Minister Phil Hogan to put a stop plans to build a monster sewerage plant in Fingal.

Reacting to the news that Clonshaugh has been chosen as the site for the massive facility, Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Dublin Senator Darragh O’Brien said it is totally unacceptable that Minister Hogan ignored the written objections of more than 12,000 local residents and refused to meet with any of local campaigners.

“It is appalling that these plans have got to such an advanced stage with so much money already spent, while the Minister refuses to listen to any of the genuine concerns of local residents,” Senator O’Brien said.

“Approximately €18 million has already been spent on planning and design of the controversial facility, and the overall final bill is expected to reach close to €1 billion. The Department of the Environment would be far better investing in the existing infrastructure and upgrading Dublin’s existing sewage plants. Such an investment would cost a mere fraction of what the Department is prepared to spend on a giant plant that will pose a serious risk to the local environment and will have a devastating impact on the community.”

Local Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, who has campaigned against this development for more than two years, has vowed to step up his opposition to locating this plant in a residential area in Fingal.

“The decision to locate this plant in Clonshaugh, with the outflow pipe between Portmarnock and Balldoyle, is disastrous for tens of thousands of residents in Clonshaugh, Portmarnock, Kinsealy, Balldoyle, Baskin and Clochrane.  This giant facility will pump 1,000 litres of sewage every second.  There are serious implications for the local environment, for public safety, for nearby households and for local amenities,” Cllr O’Brien said.

He added, “The very least that the residents of Fingal deserve is to be listened to by the Minister overseeing these plans. Minister Hogan should at least call a halt construction of this plant until after he has heard the genuine concerns of residents. In the meantime, I and my colleagues in Fianna Fáil will continue our strong opposition to this disastrous development.”