Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to speak very briefly about complaints from residents in the Mungret and Raheen areas of Limerick regarding dust deposition and Irish Cement's proposals to burn tyres and various other materials at the cement factory in Mungret. As previous speakers from the Limerick area stated, this is a cause of real concern. There have been public meetings, marches, etc., and several serious objections to the proposals have been raised. I welcome this motion and I would like to support the other Limerick Deputies who have spoken on it. Across party lines, we all wish to express our concerns, particularly about the lack of confidence that the terms of this licence will be properly monitored if it is granted. The effects of such a development on health and on air quality are unknowable. This is a cause of serious concern to people in the immediate area and, because of the prevailing winds and effects on the atmosphere, the wider region. The motion speaks for itself. Obviously, it deals with other issues relating to quarries and so on. I wish to place on record the fact that have very serious concerns about this issue. We have not been given proper assurances that if this goes ahead it will be properly monitored through an independent monitoring system that will satisfy people that the air is not being polluted. In the past, people in the area have found dust on their cars and around their homes. Several new schools, housing developments and a playground where young children spend a great deal of time have been built in the area, which is quite heavily populated. This adds to the concern about the possible serious detrimental effects of this development.

As already stated, I will not address the other issues but I know that there is concern regarding unlicensed quarries operating in various parts of the country. We all share the concern about illegal dumping, which can be seen throughout the countryside. In some cases, people go to extraordinary lengths to dump household rubbish in really beautiful places that are quite out of the way. It can be very difficult for the authorities to actually bring prosecutions in respect of this type of behaviour. I reported one case myself. I was climbing a hill in a neighbouring county and encountered rubbish dumped in this manner. We were able to get evidence and send it to the local authority, which did prosecute those responsible. That is very welcome. However it can be very difficult for local authorities to actually pursue culprits. Some people make extraordinary efforts to dump their rubbish in beautiful and out-of-the-way places. One would hope this mindset had been eliminated from this country but unfortunately it has not.

We have to be vigilant and ensure that we have appropriate strong safeguards and penalties for people found guilty of this type of activity. We must also make sure that the planning process is appropriate and properly implemented where quarries are concerned.

See this speech in context