Plans for Poolbeg incinerator not abandoned, says Dublin City Council

Plans for the construction of the Poolbeg incinerator have not been abandoned

, Dublin City Council has said.

No decision on the future of the project can be taken until a ruling is delivered by the EU Commission on complaints against the council over its operation of State aid and procurement rules in relation to the development of the plant, the council said yesterday.

It added it was confident its position would be vindicated by the commission.

The Irish Times last November reported that consultancy firm RPS was to have its contract in relation to the development of the incinerator terminated this month following payments of more than €32 million.

In excess of €95 million has been spent by the council over more than 10 years on the incinerator, which remains unbuilt. Some €50 million went on land for the facility on the Poolbeg peninsula, but almost a third of the costs over that period were paid to consultants.

Consultancy services

The decision to end the RPS contract was made following the direction of the EU Commission. City manager Owen Keegan

this week confirmed the company had been informed its contract would be terminated from the 31st of this month.

He told councillors no further money would be spent on consultancy services until the EU investigations had been dealt with. A payment of more than €1.5 million for consultancy services for the project, which had been included in the council’s 2014 budget, was removed.

If the council is cleared by the EU Mr Keegan said he would bring a report to councillors on the arguments for and against proceeding with its development.