Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

I have a few further questions for the Minister of State in regard to this proposal. If she does not have the answers to hand, I would appreciate if she could send them to me.

In my view, the Jacobs Tobin report is defective, in terms of its costings of these sites. I met with the engineers in question, who had done no homework or cost benefit analysis of any kind of the sites, including the Lusk and Clonshaugh sites. I would like to know why they did not do so. Surely, that is the first basic requirement following engineering.

During my almost 20 years as a Member of this House I have on numerous occasions raised profound issues which affect the communities that will be only a few meters from this proposed plant. They have overcome many challenges over the past two decades. It is egregious that this service is to be located cheek by jowl with these communities. Would the Minister of State agree that the outfall constraints for the Clonshaugh sites are inappropriate given the Portmarnock-Baldoyle area is a European conversation area?

My colleague, Deputy Brendan Ryan, in previous discussions on this issue in the House put forward the valuable proposal that the locating of up to seven different sites across the county, with appropriate outfall, would be better than one large site so that the burden of the plant could be shared. In recent weeks, there has been a major odour problem at the Swords plant, on which it was not possible to take action for two weeks owing to the fact that the equipment required had to be brought in from the UK. Is this not another approach that could have been, and could still be, tried?

It is madness to locate this plant on the main flight path of Dublin Airport. Aeroplanes will be required to fly directly over it. That this site is being considered is, in my view, madness. There was a debate in the House last night on planning issues. I understand the Government is to introduce further planning legislation. All of those developers who made millions, whom we are now supporting through NAMA, made no provision whatsoever for water or sewage plants in major new urban communities. They took, or lost as the case may be, all the profits. It is important action is taken to ensure this does not happen again.

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