Dublin City Council is to seek planning permission from An Bord Pleanála for the controversial incinerator at Poolbeg in Ringsend by next March.
Elsam, the Danish company contracted to design, build and operate the incinerator, has begun preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the plant, which should be completed by the new year.
This is the first step the council has taken in the statutory process of developing the incinerator. Local residents and interested parties will have their first opportunity to formally object to the development after the EIS is submitted to An Bord Pleanála. A public inquiry is likely to be held late next year.
The incinerator is central to the council's waste management plans and its 10-15 year plan for the €1.5 billion development of the Poolbeg peninsula which includes the extension of the Ringsend sewage plant and building more than 3,000 homes.
Strong opposition to the incinerator was recorded in the public submissions to the draft Poolbeg framework plan. The city manager said there would be no change in the proposals to build the incinerator.
Assistant city manger Matt Twomey said the building of the plant will be accompanied by investment in the community. "That can cover social and community infrastructure such as community halls, grants for community projects or student scholarships," he added.
A protest, led by Labour and Sinn Féin councillors was held outside a council information meeting about the plant on Saturday.
Labour TD Ruairí Quinn said the site chosen by the council was not right for an incinerator.Sinn Féin Cllr Daithí Doolan criticised the information meeting, claiming public money was being used to promote incineration.
