PLAY YOUR PART IN PREVENTING INCINERATOR AT RATHCOOLE

Press Release
28 October 2008

Tom Dowling, Green Party Candidate for Lucan area in the local election, is seeking your support in opposing plans to build an incinerator at Behan’s Quarry off the N7 beyond Rathcoole Village (less than 12km from Lucan).

An Bord Pleanála will begin a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, 29 October at the Green Isle Hotel commencing at 10am. Please come along and show your support if you have the time.

This is the most detrimental proposal ever to hit West Dublin. Plans are to process 365,000 tonnes of waste a year, 7 days a week.

Producing a toxic by-product called “Fly Ash”; studies have consistently found this ash to contain heavy metals dioxins, acid gas constituents and other pollutants in excess of regulation standards.

This plant will have a serious effect on air quality, people’s health, and water drainage within a 40km radius.

The Green Party has always been and remains opposed to incineration. I was part of the Dublin Mid West Green working group that lodged a detailed and comprehensive submission seeking its rejection.

At present Poolbeg is the preferred site for a waste to energy plant which meets the needs of the four Dublin authorities. This proposal at Rathcoole is overcapacity for this region which will mean waste will have to be transported from other areas of the country and possibly abroad.

It should be noted that both the Management of South Dublin and the Councillors are at one in their opposition to this application.

Minister John Gormley is currently bringing forward a new greener government policy on waste management that would make incineration redundant.

Current recycling rates for six months in 2008 for South Dublin are just 23.18% while 79.16% of waste ended up in landfill. We can all play our part to increase the amount we recycle, reducing our need for both incineration and landfill.

On my website I have set up a click facility - this will probably be your final chance to register your objection to this proposed incinerator.

All messages generated on this site will be collated and delivered by me to the Inspector on the first full hearing date which takes place on Wednesday 12th of November 2008.

Register your objection now – visit www.tomdowling.ie.