Concerns over plans to dump waste in Dublin Bay

Meeting held in Bayside to discuss plans by Dublin Port to dump 10 million tonnes of waste

Dublin Bay: One woman at the meeting said she was concerned about an increased risk of flooding and possible damage to the area Photograph: Alan Betson
Dublin Bay: One woman at the meeting said she was concerned about an increased risk of flooding and possible damage to the area Photograph: Alan Betson

About 40 people attended a meeting last night to air concerns about plans by Dublin Port company to dump 10 million tonnes of dredge waste in Dublin Bay.

One woman said she was concerned about an increased risk of flooding and possible damage to the area. Diving instructor Peadar Farrell told the meeting in Bayside, north Dublin, the materials dumped will cause a plume to form that will envelope the entire bay. “The dumping is planned for day and night in all weathers while best practice for dumping at sea is to dump only in winds of less than force 4 and in daylight,” he said. “Divers and swimmers and people who enjoy the lagoon will be affected by this. The amount of mud and material that will be deposited reduces viability and would make the water dangerous to dive in.”