Sinn Féin TD and spokesperson for Dublin Denise Mitchell has described the planning permission awarded by An Bord Pleanála today for a massive sewage treatment plant that with a drain just one kilometre off Ireland’s eye as ill-advised and unwelcome.

The Dublin Bay North TD said:

“Sinn Féin have long been opposed to this plan. The decision to locate this enormous plant so close to people’s homes and businesses is totally wrong. 

“While we recognise that the wastewater infrastructure of the city needs to be radically overhauled, we do not believe that this is the correct way to go about it. The use of smaller localised sewage treatment plants greatly reduces the possibility of an environmental disaster should a systems failure occur.

“We have anglers and fishermen who use this area and who are very concerned what impact this could have on fishing grounds. People are concerned about the impact on beaches and water quality.

“Irish Water have not inspired confidence of late with the two boil water notices that the people of Dublin have been subjected to in the past month, alongside reports today that sewage from 36 towns and villages is being pumped directly into sea and rivers, and they are doing nothing to restore confidence by pushing ahead with this objectionable scheme.”

ENDS