County council fines Kilrush for dump

Clare County Council has ordered its sister local authority, Kilrush Town Council, to pay out almost €2,600 arising from an authorised dump that the town council established last May.

Arising from the dumping of two lorry loads of old computers, bicycles, lorry tyres, bin bags, stones and soil on Cooraclare Road in Kilrush, the town council has been fined and ordered to pay €2,580 to the county council.

The town council's director for the environment, Ger Dollard, said yesterday: "The council views the illegal disposal of waste as inexcusable considering there are four recycling centres, including two transfer stations, 54 recycling bring-banks and a central waste management facility located in Co Clare."

Clare's deputy mayor Cllr Brian Meaney (Green) said yesterday: "This reflects very poorly on Kilrush Town Council and must be a first where a local authority has fined another council in relation to an illegal dump.

"I wish to make it clear that the first efforts of the person that tried to highlight this were dismissed and the most prompt action taken was an attempt to bury the waste."

However a county council statement said: "Kilrush Town Council removed the material within a week of receiving a complaint from a member of the public. It has already conducted an investigation into how the waste was inappropriately disposed of and has acknowledged that the incident should not have happened in the first instance.

"Kilrush Town Council's policy on waste has since been communicated to employees at all grades and levels."

Chair of the council's special policy committee for the environment Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) said: "This incident demonstrates Clare County Council's commitment to following up on all instances of illegal dumping. We need to continue to seriously tackle such illegal activity and it is imperative that the local authorities set an example in this regard.

"I am glad that Kilrush Town Council faced up to its responsibilities immediately and has paid the fine and other charges imposed by Clare County Council."