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Water and Sewerage Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2012

Tuesday, 3 July 2012

Questions (456)

Clare Daly

Question:

471 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to the proposed sewage treatment plant in north County Dublin, the distance from the three potential sites to the load centre or centres; the cost per kilometre of the pipes; the size of the pipes; the level of treatment the sewage will be given; if a tidal flow study has been done on the area of sea in which the pipes will be; the distance out to sea that the outflow pipes will go; if his attention has been drawn to an incident (details supplied) in view of the distance of the outflow pipes and the possibility of waste being carried a significant distance along the coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32302/12]

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Written answers

The Greater Dublin Regional Drainage Project — North Dublin Treatment Plant and Orbital Sewer is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2013 as a Scheme to proceed through planning during the lifetime of the programme. In March 2011, Fingal County Council appointed Consultants to prepare a Preliminary Report and Environmental Impact Assessment for the contract. The identification of potential locations for the regional wastewater treatment plant is an important step in this process.

In October 2011, as part of the Alternative Sites Assessment and Route Selection Report (Phase 1), Fingal County Council identified nine potential land parcels in the northern part of the Greater Dublin Area within which a proposed regional wastewater treatment plant could potentially be located, along with a marine outfall and an orbital drainage system. The Council carried out an 8 week non-statutory public consultation seeking views on the proposals and the land parcels.

These nine land parcels were then assessed as potential locations in which to site the regional wastewater treatment plant. The routes for the orbital drainage system and the marine outfall pipe locations were also assessed. Site specific information, more in-depth desk-top research, consultations and detailed site surveys, as well as feedback from the public were used to assist in identifying the locations with the least impact under 15 criteria.

Of these nine land parcels, three sites have now been identified by the Council as emerging preferred site options in the Alternative Sites Assessment and Route Selection Report (Phase 2). A new 8 week non-statutory public consultation period commenced on Monday, 14 May 2012, and runs until 6 July 2012. As part of this process, 4 Open Days are being arranged by the Council where the public can meet with the Project Team and discuss the Report.

When the preferred site is identified the Council will prepare detailed plans and complete an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This EIS together with a planning application under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure Act) 2006 will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála. An Bord Pleanála will carry out its own statutory public consultation on the project.

My main role in water services projects is to provide capital funding for the work through my Department's water services investment programme and I may, in the future, have a statutory role should there be a requirement for a foreshore licence for the project. Beyond the inclusion of the project in the investment programme for planning, and funding of the planning stage, I have not commented on these proposals as they developed, as this might prejudice my statutory role and/or the role of An Bord Pleanála. It is a matter for Fingal County Council to advance the planning of the project.

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