Dublin South East Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Doolan-Council in serious breach of agreement

Published: 14 November, 2005

Sinn Féin's Dublin Spokesperson on the Environment & Representative for Dublin South East, Councillor Daithí Doolan, has today slammed, "Council officials for being in serious breach of an agreement reached with City Councillors in regard to the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Works."

Speaking during an emergency debate in City Hall today, Cllr. Doolan said:

"City Council officials recently confirmed with me that no further extension to the plant would take place until the outstanding odour problems were fully dealt with. Yet today Dublin City Council took out an advertisement in the Irish Times calling for expressions 'of interest for the proposed extension to the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Works', this stunt is nothing short of outrageous.

This advertisement flies in the face of every assurance given to me, it clearly shows Council officials have failed to keep their side of the bargain. This grave situation is made worse by the fact that we have yet to see the secret report in to the ongoing mismanagement of the plant.

This Public Private Partnership has failed and failed miserably. The stench coming from the plant has cost the public Euros 1.5 million this year alone yet the private company only paid Euros 500,000 towards solving this problem. This motion is calls on Council officials to cease any work that involves the extension of this floundering plant.

Let me be clear, this Council should not expand the plant until it is fully functioning, odour free and meeting the best international standards."

In conclusion Cllr. Doolan called on, "Council officials to publicly withdraw this advertisement, shelve the plans for expansion and focus their energies on tackling the problems at hand."