A Multi Agency Task Group comprising of Limerick County and City Councils, the Garda Síochána, Customs And Excise, The Revenue Commissioners and The Department of Social Protection this morning carried out a joint action on an Unauthorised Waste Facility at Monaclinoe, Ballysimon, Limerick.
The objective of the action was to remove unauthorised waste, vehicles used in the transportation of waste, and other equipment.
The site consists of 5 acres of land occupied by a number of families. Approximately 30 persons including children live on the site. The site contains scrap trucks, cars and engines parts, the dismantling of which has caused considerable pollution in the area.
According to Gerry Behan, Director of Services, Limerick County Council: “The site has been operating for some years now and has been the subject of various court actions over that period. With the current high value of scrap metal due to world demand, a lucrative international trade in metals, engines and other car parts now exists. There are many legitimate facilities which abide with and meet strict environmental criteria in dealing with scrap metal. These sites have gone to great expense to ensure that they comply with the relevant legislation including planning permission and permit conditions and are therefore at a severe commercial disadvantage when compared with an illegal operator.”
Caroline Curley, Director of Services, Limerick City Council added: “Ireland is facing increasing pressure from the European Commission to ensure unauthorised waste activities, particularly those relating to Hazardous Wastes such as scrap vehicles are regularised or closed down and indeed has been given a deadline of the end of this year to seek to close these type of facilities. Similar actions have successfully been undertaken in other parts of the country using a joint agency approach and have been found to be very effective.”
