Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank our new Cathaoirleach. I am part of the Ballinasloe Says No committee. It is really how I got involved in being a community representative. It is a community group that challenged the inappropriate location of a waste transfer station in Ballinasloe, in low-lying floodplains. We received news this week that Galway County Council has noted that the planning permission has lapsed for the proposed site. It was inappropriate and unsuitable. This is such a win for Ballinasloe. As a community, we said "No" to hundreds of 30-tonne trucks coming through the centre of our town, the air pollution and the impact on our environment and waterways. I wish to thank a number of people. So many have been involved, but I thank my brother Brian, who started all this. There was an objection based on the outcome of a 1999 High Court order, whereby families all around fought against this dump without proper infrastructure. In December 2017, five years ago, we came together, a committee with a chair, Vincent Parsons, Eamonn O'Donoghue, Mick O'Neill and treasurers Niall Donnellan and Darragh Dolan. Our family and friends went out knocking on doors, in snow and ice, like this time of year five years ago. We knocked on every door. More than 500 people came to our public meeting on 10 January. Among our public representatives here, Senator Eugene Murphy was very supportive. Other public representatives and councillors attended. Thousands of submissions were signed as we challenged permits over the past five years in the High Court. Our amazing volunteers who had to organise fundraisers, everyone in our community, the clubs and businesses that donated - all gave of their time. There were all our musicians and artists who helped us with fundraising nights of music in our hotels, Gullane's and the Shearwater, as well as table quizzes, raffles, floats and golf classics. We did everything to raise funds. We did everything to fight this battle. I thank our legal team of solicitors and barristers. We know, as a committee, that every step, motion and action in the past five years brought us to this step.

We will review future developments in this area. I just wanted to acknowledge this incredible achievement. It has spurred an awareness of the stunning landscapes on our doorsteps. There are so many positive things about it. We have a cycleway coming to Ballinasloe. I thank each and every person involved and Members of this House for their support.