Duleek Co Meath Permission granted for waste incinerator
In a statement, An Taisce said the decision marked the ill-advised endorsement by An Bord Pleanála of incineration as a means of waste disposal.
Indaver Ireland plan to spend €80 million on the facility and will be expected to pay a levy for environmental projects in the area.
Objectors to the scheme said they were disappointed but not surprised that it was given the go-ahead.
Planning permission for the development was granted by Meath County Council to Indaver Ireland in 2001, subject to 31 conditions being met.
An Bord Pleanála last year heard a large number of objections during a hearing, but decided today it would uphold planning permission for the site at Carranstown, near Duleek, if the conditions are satisfied.
Pat O'Brien of the 'No Incinerator Alliance Group' said he was not surprised by the decision, but nevertheless disappointed.
Mr O'Brien said the board did not consider the most recent medical research available on the harmful effects of incinerators.
He added that his group was not allowed to raise health or environment concerns at the appeal stage.
Among the conditions are that records of all waste delivered to the site every day will have to be submitted to the planning authority every month.
A Community Liaison Committee will be established, comprising two officials from the planning authority, two representatives of the developer, two local residents and two Meath county councillors.
The developer will also be expected to pay a levy, based on a payment per tonne of waste, for environmental projects in the area.
The developers will have to pay for a community recycling park in Duleek, and an archaeological appraisal of the site.
The facility can only process waste from the North East region of counties Meath, Louth, Cavan and Monaghan.
During building work on the site, no work can be carried out on Sundays or public holidays, or outside of the hours of 7am to 9pm.
Cullen reaction to incinerator decision
The Minister for the Environment, Martin Cullen, said he noted the decision but said individual case decisions of this kind were determined independently of the Government by dedicated expert bodies.
On the more general policy implications involved, the Minister said there was an acceptance that Ireland urgently needs to modernise its waste management practice.
The Green Party said it was extremely disappointed with An Bord Pleanála's decision.
The Party's Environment spokesperson, Ciaran Cuffe, said he believed that emissions from incineration plants pose a risk to health.
