Serious questions had to be answered as to why the Moville-Greencastle Sewerage Scheme was being directed towards a most unsuitable site while much more environmentally and superior locations were being by-passed.

This was stated by Independent MEP Marian Harkin following a meeting organised by the Carnagarve Community for a Clean Estuary Committee which she attended in Moville on Friday, October 20th.

Marian Harkin described the selection process for the Sewerage Scheme as one which deserved the closest possible examination by national planning authorities and, if necessary, by the relevant EU judicial process.  “It is very difficult to understand how the initial seven potential locations, including one which would take outflow to the open sea, are being disregarded and replaced with a location with far less suitable environmental characteristics”, she said.  The assessment process used for the sewerage Scheme raised some very serious issues, she said, and the lack of consultation with the local community reflected very badly on Donegal County Council.

“There are serious questions about how this planning process is being conducted and I am greatly concerned that the rights of people are being ignored in an attempt to build a sewerage plant in an obviously unsuitable location”, Independent MEP Marian Harkin said.