Cork councillors fire back at plans for incinerator
“The communities and the people of the lower harbour will not take this lying down and we intend to fight it until the bitter end.”
The words of Sinn Féin Cllr Eoghan Fahy at Monday’s full county council meeting. He condemned revived plans for the construction of an incinerator in Ringaskiddy.
Belgian waste solutions company Indaver are behind the proposed incinerator having first lodged a proposal in 2016 which, after initially being granted permission, was eventually quashed by the High Court in 2022.
The firm has now revived its proposal sparking outrage amongst local community groups and residents.
Cllr Fahy said: “Our communities have shown in large and vocal volumes that we do not want an incinerator of this size on this site. It's also important to note that since this application was lodged, zoning on parts of these lands has now changed for education.”
The proposed incinerator, which is currently in the hands of An Coimisiún Pleanála (formally An Bord Pleanála) would have the capacity to treat up to 240,000 tonnes of waste per year. Local community group, Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment (CHASE), has led the fight against the proposal and is now planning a series of local meetings.
The first meeting takes place at Carrigaline Community Centre this evening (Thursday) at 8.15pm. A meeting will take place on 5 November at Cobh Community Centre from 7.30pm, followed by a meeting on 6 November from 7.30pm at Ringaskiddy Community Centre.
Carrigaline councillor Audrey Buckley (FF) said: “We thought this was gone. With over 30,000 signatures, we thought this was squashed, so it is quite upsetting for a lot of the older timers in CHASE to see this raise its ugly head again.”
In a statement, Belgian firm Indaver said its proposed Ringaskiddy facility is fully in line with EU, national, and regional waste policy. A company spokesperson said: “The need for a facility in Cork is greater than ever.
“Waste-to-energy is a safe and well-established technology. Indaver has successfully operated a facility in Duleek, Co. Meath since 2011, adhering to the highest safety and environmental standards. The same high standards will apply to the proposed project in Ringaskiddy, should it be granted planning permission.”
CHASE is urging the people of Cork to voice their concerns and opposition to the proposed incinerator to An Coimisiún Pleanála before 17 November when submissions close at 5.30pm.