‘People feel they can’t complain in case this money is jeopordised’

Calls have been made for a review into how the Indaver Community Scheme is operated.

There was a heated debate at October’s Laytown/Bettystown Municipal district meeting with local representatives demanding greater transparency in to how the committee conducts its business.

It comes after a number of councillors claimed they were not being kept in the loop on proceedings and raised concerns that the company had not been held to account for local issues at council meetings in recent years.

In addition, there was a complaint that some members had not been invited to a recent event to handover funds under the community scheme.

Under the planning conditions for the Indaver waste to energy plant, the organisation gives money to the local community for every tonne that is accepted into the facility in the form of a levy that is paid to Meath County council.

The fund is managed by the Community Liaison Committee and is designed to provide financial assistance to local community-based clubs and voluntary organisations for the development of community projects and works in the locality.

A condition was set out by An Bord Pleanala that a community Liaison Committee be established consisting of a minimum of eight representatives - two officials from the Planning Authority, two representatives from the developer, two local residents and two elected members of Meath County Council.

Independent Cllr Geraldine Keogan is the current chairperson and cathaoirleach of Laytown/Bettystown municipal district, Cllr Stephen McKee is the second committee member.

Fianna Cllr Wayne Harding tabled a motion previously for a comprehensive review of the structure and governance arrangements of the Indaver Community Liaison Committee. Councillors at last week’s meeting requested a record of that review.

During the meeting Cllr Stephen McKee was urged to remove an article he had shared online stating that Indaver had "donated “ €280,000 to the community with councillors pointing out that it is not a donation but a levy it is obliged to pay under its planning permission terms.

Cllr Sharon Tolan said that issues regarding the facility were not being addressed in the chamber and stressed that members of the public should not feel compromised due to the funding scheme.

“I spent two and a half years on that committee, each of those years, Indaver came in here and outlined to the MD how much tonnage of waste was going through," she said. "We would bring up issues that members of the public wanted to bring up but are now afraid to bring up in case they are penalised if they apply for a grant.

"It is important that members of the public are not held over a barrel or coerced into not raising serious concerns because of €280,000 of a levy."

Cllr Paddy Meade noted that although Cllr McKee did not use the word "donation" in the online piece, he did share the story that used that wording in its headline.

Cllr Wayne Harding who originally put forward a motion into a review of the scheme said:

"It shouldn’t have come to this. It is Meath Co Council administered and it is not Indaver's money. How we let it become Indaver's money is absolutely disgraceful.

"There was a huge row over planning permission as there would be with any incinerator. It was put in place (the funding scheme) for people who are affected by the incinerator in the area.

"Homeowners have said that we have let them down to allow a multi-million euro company take the full credit."

Fianna Fail Cllr Tom Behan said: "It shows an absolute disrespect for this council and its members. I am aware that none of the members received invitations to what was an official Meath Co Council event - but some of the members knew anthing about. We need a full review into this committee.

"A motion was tabled by Cllr Harding, it was passed by the members that there would be a full review. We need clarity if any review took place at all, what decisions were made and was there any discussion about the changing of the board members or the committee members."

Labour Cllr Elaine McGinty echoed Behan's comments.

"We had the conversation last year, we had it the year before and here we are once again and nothing is being done. The closed shop nature of the committee doesn’t sit well with me and it never has. People no longer feel that they can make complaints in case this money is jeopardised.

Speaking afterwards Cllr McKee said he did not use the word donation in the article but acknowledged that he shared the story with donation in the headline saying it was "an oversight." He said he would welcome a review into the scheme and added:

"That scheme works very well in the community and it is very well run by Meath County Council.

"It is operated according to the terms of reference set out in 2010. We follow the rule of the scheme to the letter."

A spokesperson for Meath Co Council said:

"All grant schemes are reviewed periodically and suggested changes made where appropriate. The scheme is currently being reviewed and the Elected Members will be advised of any proposed amendments to the scheme.

"Indaver have confirmed that they issued an invitation for the recent Carranstown Grant Awards night to all Laytown Bettystown Municipal District Members."

Indaver has been approached for comment.