asked the Minister for Local Government whether he has elicited the special circumstances which influenced Dublin Corporation to grant permission for the establishment of a cement-making project in the South Lotts Road area.
34.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Cement-Making Project.
33.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether an adverse report was submitted to Dublin Corporation authorities on the desirability on health grounds of placing cement-making machinery at South Lotts Road.
35.
asked the Minister for Local Government what was the advice submitted by the City Medical Officer, to the Dublin City Manager concerning the desirability of placing cement-making machinery at South Lotts Road.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 33, 34 and 35 together.
I am informed that the particular circumstances which influenced the Corporation in giving permission for this development were—
1. That the site was in an area zoned in the draft planning scheme for industry.
2. That the former use of the site was industrial, the premises being used as a rope making works.
3. That the detailed description of the wet-process proposed to be carried out and the provisions to be incorporated in the plant for suppression of dust indicated that dust nuisance need not be anticipated.
4. That the development was in no way inconsistent with the provisions of the draft planning scheme.
In connection with the application, the Chief Medical Officer advised that he "did not think that the site was suitable for a process which was liable to interfere with the amenities of the houses facing Gordon Street." Apart from a suggestion that the development would diminish the light to the rear of these houses, his report did not indicate any specific objection on the grounds of danger to health.
In correspondence with the City Planning Officer subsequent to the grant of the permission, the Chief Medical Officer stated that in a similar situation there had been some nuisance from noise and greater nuisance from dust and, although the latter had been diminished by use of the wet process, it had not been eliminated. On the 17th November, 1964, he expressed the opinion that unless the works were extraordinarily effective, nuisance from dust would arise but as there were no plants in the city or suburbs which were similar to that proposed at South Lotts Road, he was unable to judge to what extent possible nuisance from noise or dust might arise.
I think that I should add that Road-stone Limited, in a memorandum submitted to the Corporation on the 17th November, 1964, stated as follows:
"We guarantee that there will be no escape of cement dust. On the subject of noise... the noise level will be much lower than the normal noise of traffic in the area. The factory will be in operation during the ordinary hours worked in the building trade."
After work had commenced on the site, the Corporation received complaints from local residents in connection with the proposed development and I am informed that these complaints have been considered by the Planning and Development Committee of the Corporation. I have not been informed as to what action, if any, the Corporation may take as a result of these complaints but I understand that the Committee decided at their meeting on the 17th November to request representatives of the firm concerned to attend at a meeting of the Committee on the 20th November.
May I take it then that there is no such plant near any residential area at present? Or is there any such plant as this in Ireland from which it would be possible to find out if there is a health hazard associated with it?
The only thing I have is the statement by the Chief Medical Officer that as there was none in the city or suburbs, he had no measure to determine the position.
Would it not be fair to say, then, in view of what the Chief Medical Officer says, that there is a possible health hazard, and in those circumstances surely it is grossly improper for the Corporation to have sanctioned the positioning of this machinery in the middle of a residential area, so close to where people are living and working? Is there anything the Minister can do?
In the interim period that the permission was granted quite a number of months ago, no appeal was made and none now lies.