Dublin City Council Waste to Energy Management held an open day on Saturday 17th January at Clanna Gael Fontenoy, which included a slideshow displaying the benefits of the Community Gain aspects of the newly approved mass-burn Incinerator to be built on the Poolbeg peninsula.

A Community Liaison Committee, as required by planning permission, is to be set up to manage a fund combining an initial once-off lump sum of €8 million, about 3 % of the capital cost of the plant and an additional annual €1 per tonne of waste burned added, some €600,000.

This will be updated in keeping with the consumer price index. At the Open Day, information on the Community Gain Fund focused mainly on the conditions in the planning permission on the setting up of the Community Liaison Committee, who will have a role in administering the fund and monitoring of the operation of the Plant.

Peter Morley of Dublin City Council Waste to Energy says that he will advertise to invite expressions of interest in joining the Community Liaison Committee and proposing projects for funding (see page 37). The functions of this committee will include; the administration of the Community Gain Fund and to act as a liaison group with the local community regarding the ongoing monitoring of the incinerator.

The Community Gain proposals submitted in the EIS to An Bord Pleanála back in 2006 are identified under three headings:

1. A Community Gain Fund that will be used to finance facilities/ services for the benefit of local community.
2. District Heating to be generated by the Waste to Energy Plant.
3. The refurbishment/ redevelopment of the former Pigeon House Power Station, the old former Hotel and adjacent site (circa five acres), for appropriate uses, in partnership with the local community.

With regard to this proposal, the intention is that Dublin City Council, in partnership with the local community, will seek proposals from the private sector for the refurbishment and redevelopment, where appropriate, of the buildings around the site for suitable uses.

Above: Incinerator protest at Clanna Gael.