Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 September 2017
287. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he or his departmental officials have carried out an assessment on whether there will be an impact on the operations of the Naval Service and the Air Corps at Ringaskiddy harbour if an incinerator (details supplied) is allowed to go ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41095/17]
View answer288. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he or his departmental officials made a submission to An Bord Pleanála regarding the planning permission sought for an incinerator (details supplied) in Ringaskiddy, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41096/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 288 together.
The Department of Defence, following consultation with the Air Corps and the Naval Service, in May 2016 made an oral submission to an Bord Pleanála regarding the proposed development of the waste to energy facility in Ringaskiddy. The submission identified two areas of concern, the proximity of the incinerator stack to Haulbowline and the possible difficulties in the evacuation of the island if necessitated by an incident at the incinerator facility.
The Defence Forces advised that the proximity of the stack of the waste-to-energy facility to the helicopter approach paths of Haulbowline Naval Base and Spike Island is a matter of concern due to the fact that this stack will be emitting significant amounts of exhaust gases and is seen by the Department as a potential hazard as it may in certain conditions render approaches by Air Corps helicopters into and out of Haulbowline Island as unsafe.
The second area of concern is due to the fact that Haulbowline Island is accessed by a bridge which is connected to the Ringaskiddy Road. The proposed incinerator is to be built adjacent to this road, before Haulbowline. Therefore, in the event of any accident at the incinerator, road access to and from Haulbowline is threatened. This could in some instances hinder the operation of the Naval Base or in the event of a major incident necessitating local area evacuation, the evacuation of Haulbowline would be denied.
The planning application on the building of an incinerator in Ringaskiddy remains under consideration by An Bord Pleanála. Accordingly, it would be inappropriate to comment further on the matter at this time.
