Sewage pollution at north Dublin beaches “unacceptable” - O'Brien

Dublin Fingal TD demands meeting with local authority

Fianna Fáil TD, Darragh O’Brien has requested an urgent meeting with Fingal County Council following sewage pollution at five local beaches.

Beaches in Rush, Balbriggan, Skerries, Loughshinny and Portmarnock have all been forced to restrict bathing due to water contamination by a suspected sewage discharge from the nearby waste water treatment plant.

Reacting to the news, Darragh O'Brien has said, "It is extremely disappointing that the only designated bathing beaches along north Dublin have all been affected. Sewage issues and pollution have been plaguing the north of Dublin for some time now.

"It is inexcusable that the local community are being forced to put up with bathing restrictions during the summer period and at a time when we are enjoying some fine weather.

"The Skerries Water Festival and the Rush Harbour Festival, which are due to take place later this summer, could be now affected and the impact on tourism and the local economy will be significant.“ said O'Brien.

He added, "The local community are deeply concerned and need assurances that there will not be any further pollution to the local environment. I am demanding that senior officials in the local authority provide an explanation and detail what contingency plans are being put in place to ensure that this incident is not repeated.

“The very least that the residents of Fingal deserve is a clean local environment, for public safety, for nearby households and for local amenities. Fixing this sewage problem must now be a priority and every effort must be made to avoid any similar occurrence in the future.

“I have, with local community groups, led the campaign against the ill-thought out proposal to build a giant sewage plant in Fingal, from the very outset.

“The latest restrictions reiterate how threatening the plant is to our locality and that smaller, localised treatment plants are the correct and appropriate way forward. I remain absolutely opposed to the development of a monster sewage plant in our community, as it is an entirely inappropriate location for a plant of this scale. I intend on further expressing these grave concerns when I meet with senior officials this coming Monday. "
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