Ballynagran dump expansion ‘a sign of incompetence from EPA and Minister’ – Brady

Ballynagran dump expansion ‘a sign of incompetence from EPA and Minister’ – Brady





Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow-East Carlow John Brady has said that Minister for Communications, Climate Change and Environment Denis Naughten’s response to the increase of 40,000 tonnes of waste for Ballynagran landfill is the wrong one, saying that “the people of Wicklow should not pay for the incompetence of the Minister and the EPA in their failure to plan ahead”.

Teachta Brady said:

“I questioned the Minister for Communications, Climate Change and Environment and raised a number of concerns surrounding the decision made to increase the intake of waste at Ballynagran landfill to 190,000 tonnes in the Dáil chamber yesterday evening.

“This increase is 40,000 tonnes above the maximum tonnage under the planning conditions set out by the EPA waste licence. However, the EPA are on board and have already facilitated it by making technical amendments to the waste licence.

“The fact that Minister Naughten, along with others, were made aware of this emergency situation well before it occurred yet, they still failed to take action and put plans in place is particularly concerning.

“I appealed to the Minister to intervene in this most serious situation and I asked him to contact the EPA to request that they reverse this decision.

“I highlighted a number of ongoing concerns with the landfill site as it is never mind with an additional 40,000 tonnes which will simply make a bad situation worse.

“I am disappointed that Wicklow County Council did not see fit to consult with the community liaison committee which, was set up as part of the planning process, elected representatives or locals living in the community. This was wrong.

“The Minister’s response to my concerns provides little comfort to the people of Wicklow particularly, those living within the vicinity of the landfill site. The way that this so-called emergency situation has been dealt with has been entirely insufficient and it has blatantly ignored the legitimate concerns of people in the area.

“I do not accept the response I received from the Minister on this matter and I fully intend to pursue this further. The people of Wicklow should not pay for the incompetence of the Minister and the EPA in their failure to plan ahead.” ENDS




See video of exchange with Minister Naughten here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMxSoqTnd54&t=9s