A Government offer of £200,000 to help Co Louth residents in their legal action to have British Nuclear Fuels Ltd's reprocessing plant at Sellafield, Cumbria, closed was described last night as "totally inadequate" and "quite disgraceful".
The Minister of State for Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr Joe Jacob, met a deputation from the residents yesterday and told them the Government was prepared to give them £200,000 towards research work. It would not contribute towards legal expenses.
He said all relevant Government Departments would be available to assist in the research. He stressed that this support depended on the residents withdrawing their case against the State as co-defendant in their action against BNFL.
Later, Mr Jacob said he regretted the residents had not found the offer acceptable. "Naturally, I am sorry that the offer did not meet their expectations but it must be appreciated that the offer made was carefully judged in the light of what was prudent in financial and legal terms."
Mr James McGuill, solicitor for the residents, told The Irish Times last night that the residents were outraged and felt the Government had misled the public.
Mr John Gormley TD, of the Green Party, said they had earlier been given the impression that the Government was going to back the residents. It was now backtracking and the residents would have to pay "astronomical legal fees".
Fianna Fail promised in April that the case being taken by the residents would be "fully funded".