This article is from page 2 of the 2009-04-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
has learned that the EPA are currently preparing a number of files which they intend to send to the Director of Pub- lic Prosecutions (DPP) on the matter. This latest revelation comes just
a week after the local authority was found to have committed 14 breaches in relation to odour levels at the site during three days of EPA spot checks earlier this year.
“On October 1, 2008, in a case brought by the EPA against Clare County Council at Ennistymon Dis- trict Court, the judge refused jurisdic- tion. The EPA requested the court to have the proceedings struck out. The court therefore declared them with- drawn and struck out,” said an EPA spokesperson. “The EPA is continu- ing with its investigation and intends submitting a file to the DPP on the matter upon completion.”
Outgoing local County Council-
lor Flan Garvey (FG) has accused the EPA of showing a total lack of leadership on the issue of Bally- duffbeg. Garvey has challenged the Government’s environmental agency to show the council where they are going wrong in Ballyduffbeg.
“The EPA are full of negative talk but they have never given Clare County Council any direction on how to rectify the problems. They are the experts on this but they seem unable to provide us with any solu- tions,” he said.
“They have shown a total lack of leadership on this issue; of course they have. It’s easy to come in and point to the problems but they have
failed to come up with any solutions. I am challenging the EPA to come in and tell Clare County Council exact- ly where they are going wrong and what can be done.
“I know a former Director of Serv- ices at Clare County Council asked the EPA to show him an example of the best-run waste management facil- ity in the country and the EPA said it was our facility here. The EPA didn’t go on the record about this statement but it was said.”
The Central Waste Management Facility at Ballyduffbeg just outside of Inagh has been controversial issue since it was first mooted in February of 1998.