Written answers
Tuesday, 9 June 2015
Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
Planning Issues
Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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1023. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of a planning application by a United States of America company for a private for-profit gasification plant at Gortnadroma in County Limerick, in the context of outstanding health and safety concerns regarding such processes; if this should be permitted here; his plans regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21265/15]
Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Any application for planning permission for the type of development mentioned will be considered by the relevant planning authority, Limerick County Council, under the Planning and Development Act 2000 and associated Regulations, which include a requirement for public consultation, and for consultation with prescribed bodies. These bodies include the Health Service Executive and the Health and Safety Authority, in appropriate circumstances.
The decision of a planning authority on a planning application is appealable to An Bord Pleanála, who, in determining an appeal, reviews the entire case.
This matter is therefore one for the planning authority concerned, or An Bord Pleanála in the event of an appeal, and I have no role in relation to the matter.
Mark Keogh
Posted on 25 Jun 2015 1:55 pm (Report this comment)
It has been reported in the papers, and has been all over the radio in recent weeks about how this Gasification plant has been rushed through to planning by all but 3 of the LCCC Councillors.They went to France to inspect a much smaller plant that they said is similar in design to the one proposed, and upon arrival it was not in operation. They then signed the lease for the American company Cadance Enviropower to commence the planning process. The Councillors have no knowledge of how these plants work, the emissions they deploy or much about anything that is associated with this company. There has been no public involvement whatsoever offered in this process, and LCCC have not as yet arranged any public meetings, even though concerned residents have had 2 so far. LCCC have blatantly ignored the people that they represent, and may very well have broken their own Code of Conduct in parts: Section 2, subsection 2.1 and 2.2, Subsection 3.10 and Subsection 4.1 through their inactions in being public representatives.