‘A joke’ — Tipperary councillors hit out at lengthy delay in landfill project
It is a “joke” that a former Tipperary landfill is waiting so long to be remidiated.
That’s according to Mayor of Clonmel Councillor Pat English, who said that plans for works on the former Kilsheelan landfill had been mooted for a number of years.
At the most recent meeting of the Clonmel Borough District, councillors were briefed by members of the council’s environment section.
Fianna Fáil councillor Siobhán Ambrose asked what works were being considered for the landfill.
“In relation to the certification with respect to the authorisation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Kilsheelan landfill, what exactly is to be considered here?” she asked.
Cllr English asked when the application was put in, and what was holding it up so much.
“I know this has been brought up for numerous years, and it’s a sad situation to see that we can’t get the funding out of the EPA to enhance that area and bring it back to what it should be,” he said.
In response to this, Sharon Scully from the environment section said that the application for works on the landfill was submitted more than 10 years ago, but no updates had been recieved.
“The application was submitted in 2013, so a significant period of time. The person who manages closed landfills would be in constant contact with the EPA in relation to those certificates of authorisation.
“We’ve had an update in the last number of weeks about two other closed landfills, but nothing for Kilsheelan,” Ms Scully said.
Cllr English said the length of time waiting on works for Kilsheelan are “a joke.”
“Is there any way we can write to a minister on it to try and be more forceful in getting work done down there?” he asked.
Cllr Ambrose asked if there was any specific reason for the delay in getting the project across the line.
“You’ve said two applications have come back from other areas. Those two, I’m sure, were later applications, am I right in that?” she asked.
“They were later applications to the Department, and yet 13 years on, there’s nothing for Kilsheelan. Is there an issue that’s holding it up?” the Fianna Fáil councillor asked.
Ms Scully said that there were no problems holding up the application, and she didn’t know what the delay was.
“There isn’t any issue that we’ve been told, we haven’t been told of a significant problem or why it would take this long,” she said.