An oral hearing by An Bord Pleanála into a municipal waste incinerator at Poolbeg in Dublin, one of the most controversial developments planned for the city in years, will begin this week with hundreds of protesters expected to attend.
The public hearing, which starts on Thursday and is likely to last for a number of weeks, will be held at the Croke Park conference centre to allow for the large crowds expected.
The incinerator, which would burn 600,000 tonnes of waste, or 25 per cent of Dublin's household and non-hazardous commercial waste, was first proposed for the Poolbeg Peninsula in 1999, and since then has had a considerably rocky journey to reach the planning hearing stage.
Despite being Government policy, the proposed plant has been opposed by city councillors of all parties and by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, within whose constituency the plant would be sited, as well as other local TDs, residents and environmental groups.
Over the years it has been the subject of large-scale public protests, has been excluded from the Dublin City Development Plan by city councillors, and been the subject of petitions to the European Parliament.
The most recent blows to the project came in February, when Elsam, the firm contracted to build and run the facility was the subject of a takeover, and less than two weeks ago, when an Oireachtas environment committee approved plans for a new urban quarter in Poolbeg, which do not include the incinerator.
Mr McDowell claimed in February that the contract for the incinerator had collapsed following the takeover of Elsam by Danish Oil and Natural Gas (Dong).
Minister for the Environment Dick Roche at the time supported Mr McDowell and said the deal between the council and the developers was likely to be abandoned.
The council has vehemently denied the project is at any risk. It is in ongoing contractual negotiations with Dong, however it says that these do not relate to the future of the project.
An Bord Pleanála said the change of contractor would only affect the application for planning permission if an attempt was made to make a material change to the application. The council said it intended to make no such changes.
The council has put considerable effort into winning hearts and minds in relation to the project. From 2004 until shortly before it applied for permission last July, it held regular public information meetings, led by assistant city manager Matt Twomey, in the hope of persuading local residents of the benefits of incineration.
The council prefers the term "waste to energy facility" rather than incinerator, stating that the plant will provide enough electricity for the equivalent of 50,000 homes and heating for a further 60,000 homes in the local area.
It also emphasises the environmental benefits of the plant which, by diverting 25 per cent of Dublin's waste from landfill, will save approximately eight acres of land each year.
In addition to the environmental concerns, residents have raised objections in relation to the additional traffic the plant will generate. The council estimates that 121 trucks will be required to transport the waste for incineration, but in its planning application it said: "This will not generate significant traffic on either the local or strategic road network and adequate capacity is available on the road network to accommodate the development."
The council has also stipulated that the developers must set aside an €8 million community gain fund, which would be topped up with €250,000 annually.
The council and the developers will be first to make their case for the facility at the hearing, followed by the objectors. The planning inspector will then make a recommendation to the board, which then makes a determination on whether to grant permission.
