Dáil debates

Wednesday, 4 December 2019

Environmental Impact of Quarries and Incinerators: Motion [Private Members]

 

3:30 pm

Photo of Dessie EllisDessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am glad of the opportunity to speak on a number of environmental issues that have had a significant impact on my constituency of Dublin North-West. In Finglas, we had the famous Dunsink tip head, which was in operation for more than 30 years. This was nearly ten years more than it had initially been licensed for. After much campaigning and lobbying by me and the great Finglas environmentalist, Mr. Brendan O'Connell, the dump was eventually shut down. This only happened after a long and arduous campaign that ultimately ended in us taking the case to Europe, having had little or no success through the EPA. This was not necessarily the end of our problems, however. The Dunsink tip head was capped, but the subsequent management of the closed site left a lot to be desired. The leachate pool, which was designed to remove contaminants from the waste products in the dump, failed to operate properly on a number of occasions. On one example, the leachate pool pump failed. There was no backup pump in place and the pool overflowed, the contaminated water subsequently polluting the Tolka river leading to the deaths of thousands of fish and other aquatic life. This is an example of the failure to manage correctly those facilities designed to protect the environment. The destruction of this beautiful and popular amenity was an act of environmental vandalism.

Another issue that greatly affects the people of my constituency is the privatisation of bin services. Our amendments to this motion seek for bin services to be returned to the local authorities and to be taken out of private hands. As a consequence of the privatisation of bin services, illegal dumping has become an increasing scourge in our local areas as well as a threat to health. Dublin City Council has to spend millions of euros every year to clean up our communities and to remove dumped waste of every description. This money could have been spent more productively elsewhere. Not only do private individuals pay for this service, but Dublin City Council also spends money on the issue, which is absolutely mad.

A number of houses and apartments built during the regeneration of Ballymun were affected by pyrite, which caused major structural damage requiring significant and costly repairs.

This was repeated throughout the country, particularly in Louth, Ashbourne, Balbriggan, Finglas and Ballymun. It was the result of poor monitoring and management of quarries. People moving into new homes later found to have pyrite were left for years in despair and misery as a result of this major failure. Proper measures to manage and protect our environment and its resources are vital if we are serious about addressing these concerns.

Another issue I find very infuriating is that relating to bottle banks. Bottles are placed in separate containers depending on whether they are clear, brown or any other colour. Lo and behold, when the truck arrives, the glass is all emptied into the same container irrespective of how it has been segregated. This is infuriating. The Minister should find out the reasons for this practice. What is the point in telling people to separate their bottles and then dumping them all into the same container? It does not make any sense. The Minister should look into the matter and tackle the local authorities in respect of it.

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