Concern over plan to hold dump oral hearings online

Concern has been expressed at proposals for a virtual oral hearing into the proposal to increase intake at the Knockharley Landfill site.

The virtual hearing into the application by Knockharley Landfill Ltd to increase the tonnage they can accept to 435,000 tonnes annually, including 5,000 tonnes of hazardous waste, will take place on 23rd November 2020 via MS Teams.

The site currently has planning permission to accept 88,000 tonnes of waste. Fergal O'Byrne of the Knockharley and District Residents Association wrote to An Bord Pleanála requesting the proposed hearing be postponed until the new year to allow for a full non-virtual oral hearing.

“I am aware that many local people living in the affected area would wish to take part in an actual oral hearing. However, due to a combination of age and lack of CIT access and skills, many people will be in effect dis-enfranchised from the planning process if a virtual oral hearing goes ahead.

“While the applicant will have enormous resources and CIT skills available to them, this will distort the planning process and is unfair to the local people.”

Sarah O’Hara, local Green Party LEA rep for Ashbourne said: “This planned expansion is yet another assault on the people of Tuiterath, Flemingstown and Kentstown who have been fighting against this facility for nearly 30 years. The close proximity of Kentstown National School, which is just under a kilometer away, makes the location of this facility and its planned expansion deeply concerning.”

However, in a response to Mr O'Byrne, Rob Mac Giollarnáth, Executive Officer, An Bord Pleanála said the manner in which an oral hearing is held is a matter for the Inspector, who has been delegated the function of holding the oral hearing.

“The legislation does not dictate the manner or location of the oral hearing, and nor does it specifically preclude the holding of an oral hearing using ‘virtual means’.

“The oral hearing will be open to the public, and any member of the public can request access to the hearing (through MS Teams), and can request through the inspector permission to speak at the oral hearing.

“The Board is satisfied that all members of the public participating remotely will have access to the inspector and the applicant and that their oral submission will be heard by the inspector, and recorded as would be the case if they were physically present.

“They will, as before, have the opportunity to present questions (through the inspector) to the applicant.