Ringaskiddy incinerator hearing begins

September 22, 2003

An Bord Pleanála has begun a public hearing into a plan to build Ireland's first commercial toxic waste incinerator at Ringaskiddy in Cork.

Indaver Ireland, which is seeking planning permission for the €90 million project, has claimed the plant would pose no health risks.

However, objectors have called for a ban on the development of incinerators. More than 20,000 people have signed a petition against the Ringaskiddy plan.

Cork has a concentration of chemical companies and produces more than 60% of the country's toxic waste.

Today's oral hearing got off to an inauspicious start when it was adjourned for over an hour due to problems with the public address.

Two weeks have been set aside for the oral hearing but that is only an estimate.

Even if the incinerator is granted planning permission it still has to be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, which is likely to involve another public hearing, probably early next year.

This page : http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/0922/incinerator.html