An Bord Pleanála ignored the advice of one of its own inspectors when it granted permission for a controversial incinerator in Co Meath, a Fine Gael TD claimed today.
The claim refers to the construction of the State's first municipal waste incinerator at Carronstown, Co Meath. The planning appeals' board yesterday upheld Meath County Council's decision to permit the building of the €85 million facility on the site, which lies between Duleek and Drogheda, Co Louth.
However, Fine Gael TD for Louth Mr Fergus O'Dowd has today claimed that the board ignored internal advice when it decided to uphold the Council's decision.
"Official documentation from An Bord Pleanala shows that their own inspector recommended that planning permission should be refused," he said.
"The board voted by seven members to two to overrule the inspector's recommendation," he added.
Indicating that the documentation he had seen was "not freely available at the moment", Mr O'Dowd called for the inspector's report to be published immediately.
An Bord Pleanala could not be contacted for comment.
Last night, campaigners and political parties reacted angrily to the board's announcement. The area's No Incineration Alliance claimed that objectors were not allowed to raise the issues of health, environment or emission during the appeal process.
Permission to build the incinerator was granted to Indaver Ireland.