A proposed waste facility in a park in north Dublin was yesterday opposed by locals, who told of health fears at an oral hearing of An Bord Pleanála.
Dublin City Council is seeking approval for a green waste and civic amenity recycling facility in the north-west corner of St Anne's Park, Raheny.
The facility would be on a 1.02 hectares site with three single-storey buildings, one of which would be for shredding green waste. There would also be storage bins for household waste.
Residents and health professionals are opposing the development, and say it should be relocated in a site zoned industrial.
One mother told of having to move from her house because of dust pollution from an existing green waste facility on the site to protect her daughter who had a double lung transplant.
A Bord Pleanála inspector, Mr Kevin Moore, said the proposal provided for green waste to be shredded then taken off the site.
It would also have facilities for the public to bring household waste, which would be taken away for repacking and recycling. It was estimated it could accommodate 25,000 tonnes of green waste per year, and 4,500 tonnes of household waste.
Mr Tom Loftus, head of waste management services at the council, said the waste facility would be on part of a site used for green waste. The council decided to cease composting there, and use the site for waste.
The proposed facility would occupy 2.73 acres, which was half of the existing site and one percent of park space. He said there had been health concerns over spores and dust. However, composting would not be taking place so potential spores would be reduced. The shredding facility would be inside.
Mr Brian Cummins, of St Anne's Residents Association, said at the existing facility plumes of dust and material were being ejected into the atmosphere. The council had never applied for an Environmental Protection Agency licence for it.
Dr Eleanor Jennings, a botanist, said she lived on All Saints Road but moved to rented accommodation away from the area because of health concerns. Her daughter, who has cystic fibrosis, had a double lung transplant, and so was particularly susceptible to spores.
Her husband, Mr Tom Cooney, had a condition like farmer's lung. "For the past 20 months we have been kept from our home. Our concerns are shared by others in the community who have respiratory conditions."
Labour TD Mr Tommy Broughan said the development was in the wrong location.
The hearing is expected to continue until Friday.