TD encourages backing for campaign against Cork harbour incinerator

Cork communities have been determined to oppose a proposed incinerator in Ringaskiddy for 24 years, a Cork TD has said, encouraging people to make a submission to An Coimisiun Pleanala (ACP).

In November 2001, Indaver first made a planning application to Cork County Council for permission for a waste management facility, waste transfer station and a community recycling park.

Cork County Council decided to refuse permission on 27 May 2003. However, on appeal, on 15 January, 2004, An Comisiún Pleanála, then known as An Bord Pleanála, granted permission subject to 27 conditions.

The facility was never constructed, and in 2008 Indaver submitted a new application was submitted directly to the planning board – documents for which show the project had evolved in scale, technology, and planning context since their initial application.

In June, 2011, the board refused permission, saying that the provision of incineration capacity at this site was not appropriate for the layout and limited size of the site and was incompatible with the Waste Management Plan for County Cork, that the development would constitute overdevelopment of the site, that proposed road works were not fully assessed and that they were not satisfied that the proposed measures to prevent coastal erosion were sufficient.

In 2016, another application was submitted, and granted permission in 2018. However, by order of the High Court in June 2022, the permission was quashed and remitted back to the Commission in January 2024.

In June 2024, the planning board required Indaver to supply further information, which has since been provided, signalling the reactivation of the planning application.

This has drawn strong local objection, with communities around Cork Harbour holding several meetings to organise against the plans.

The Social Democrats’ Liam Quaide told The Echo: “The determination among communities around Cork Harbour to oppose the proposed incinerator in Ringaskiddy has not changed in twenty four years.

“This incinerator would be detrimental on so many levels - in terms of its visual and environmental impact, costal erosion risk and undermining of Cork Harbour's tourism potential.

“It is vital that as many residents as possible make submissions to An Comisiún Pleanála against this retrograde proposal by November 17.”