Skip to main content

September meeting 2011

Chairperson:

  • Michael Hehir, Local Resident

Committee members:

  • Brian Fitzgerald, Local Resident
  • Dominic Keating, Inagh Development Co Ltd
  • John Longe, Local Resident (Apologies)
  • John O’Loughlin, Local Resident
  • Katie Lewis, Inagh N.S.
  • Martin Queally, Local Resident
  • Perry Long, Local Resident
  • Sheila Mc Tigue, Mike Mc Tigue Community Centre
  • Tom Long, Local Resident

Council officials:

  • Paul Moroney
  • Maeve Ryan
  • James Keane
  • Frances Mc Namara

Absent:

  • Michael Mahony, Cloonanaha NS (Apologies)
  • Patrick O’Halloran, Local Resident
  • Cllrs, Joe Arkins, Michael Hillery, Richard Nagle & Michael Kelly, Bill Slattery Clare County Council.

Main points:

Minutes of meeting held on 6th July 2011

  • Proposed by John O’Loughlin
  • Seconded by Katie Lewis

Sheila Mc Tigue gave her apologies for being unable to attend the last meeting. She asked if she could still remain on as member of the Committee. Michael Hehir said that he was agreeable to this request. Perry Long also gave her agreement. The Chairperson read a letter which was received from Michael Mahony apologising for being unable to attend that nights or the previous meeting held on the 6th July 2011.

Matters arising from minutes

Perry Long asked if progress had been made with the preparation of the Closure, Restoration and Aftercare Management Plan (CRAMP).  Paul Moroney replied that Council staff are currently working on this matter. Specified Engineering Works Reports for various aspects of the CRAMP are being prepared at present.  Contracts are also being prepared for the permanent capping of cell 13. It is hoped that the lining contractor will be in place to start lining works a week or so after the closure of the landfill. This will be weather dependent however, as if the weather is very cold it will not be possible to weld the liner.

Tom Long said that the gate price should be reduced in order to fill the cell faster. Paul Moroney said that the cell was being filled quickly at present and that Clare County Council had been actively seeking new customers but that other landfills were in a position to offer much lower gate fees.

Odour management

John O’Loughlin said that odour had been very bad from Sunday 28th to Wednesday 31st August. Maeve Ryan said that it was discovered that somebody had come on site and tampered with the flare airline.  This reduced the gas flow through the flare and caused the offsite odour.  Paul Moroney said that Clare County Council was taking this issue very seriously. The Gardai had been informed and additional security cameras had been installed. He added that the Council was looking at other measures to ensure that such an incident would not reoccur.

Brian Fitzgerald said that the odour had been very bad today (7th September) at his mothers house. Maeve Ryan said that the flare had been down that day and for a time on the previous day while it was being serviced. John Longe said that local residents were listening to the same story since the facility opened. He said that it was obvious that something was planned incorrectly with the facility, to cause the ongoing problems associated with it. He said that staff involved did not know what they were doing. Paul Moroney replied that all staff working in the facility carried out their duties in a professional manner. All information regarding the operation of the facility was passed on at the Community Liaison Monitoring Committee meetings. Maeve Ryan added that the flare had only gone down twice in the last twelve months.  She said that it was unavoidable that the flare had to be off for periods to allow for servicing.  John Longe said that Clare County Council had “an answer for everything” and that residents were told initially that none of the problems encountered would occur. Paul Moroney said that while there is an active open cell that there will be issues, however that there are systems in place to deal with the issues.

Correspondence

Perry Long queried the correspondence relating to the Audit Report which was received on the 8th August. Maeve Ryan said that this was a full day audit which took place on the 26th July 2011. The purpose of the audit was to determine the biodegradable municipal (BMW) waste content of municipal waste. No non-compliances were recorded resulting from the audit.

Perry Long also queried correspondence relating to Clare County Council’s request to accept 80 tonnes of material for use as daily / weekly cover and also an issue relating to composting waste which was referred to in the HSE Odour Inspection Form. Maeve Ryan clarified both of these matters.

Any other business

John Longe asked how long more the facility would remain open. Paul Moroney said that the facility would close some time in November if the rate of business remained the same.

Date for next meeting

The date for the next meeting is the 2nd November 2011 at 7:00 p.m.  The meeting concluded at 7:40 p.m.

Back to top

Content Last Updated/Reviewed: 01/12/11