An oral hearing to hear objections to a controversial decision to allow alternative fuels to be burned at Irish Cement’s Mungret plan has been postponed.
The EPA had taken the decision to hold the hearing next month over the controversy, which led to protests being held last year, with concern over polutants blowing over vast parts of this county.
The COVID-19 pandemic, however, has caused things to change.
This €10 million plan would allow Irish Cement to replace fossil fuels with alternative fuels including used tyres, plastics and animal waste tissue.
It proved controversial from the get-go, however, with 4,500 people expressing concern over the plans.
Clare County Council and its counterpart in Limerick also signed a joint submission opposing the proposal; however, the EPA granted permission for the project, subject to a number of conditions, last year.
In response to the ongoing opposition to the plans, the EPA agreed last month to hold a four-day hearing in May which would allow members of the public to register their objections and concerns to the plans.
Now, the EPA has been forced to postpone it due to the current COVID-19 restrictions.
It says information on a rescheduled hearing will be issued to all relevant parties well in advanced of the proposed date.
