Incinerating Poolbeg

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Poolbeg (1) (The proposed Poolbeg incinerator by Covanta)

Last month it emerged that Dublin City Council, which has paid more than €30 million to consultancy firm RPS for its services over the last ten years in relation to the proposed Poolbeg incinerator, was planning to terminate its contract with RPS.

It came after the intervention of the European Commission, which found that the contract did not conform with EU law, following complaints made to the EU by Sandymount residents Joe McCarthy and Valerie Jennings.

Dublin City Council’s contract with RPS was originally estimated at €8.3m but ended up costing around €30m.

The EU is still investigating the residents’ other complaints which are: The contract for the incinerator was awarded to a company which did not bid, and the contract for the incinerator was almost double the size advertised.

Last night [Monday], at the Dublin City Council meeting, Dublin City Manager Owen Keegan said the contract with RPS will be terminated by January 31.

He also said the Poolbeg incinerator may be scrapped, even if it emerges successfully from the rest of the EU investigation.

The State has spent up to €90million on the Poolbeg incinerator project to date, but there has been no construction on the site.

Meanwhile, in a topical twist…

RPS advised Dublin City Council on Poolbeg while head of Irish Water John Tierney was Dublin City Council manager and two former RPS executives are now employed by Irish Water.

They are Irish Water’s head of asset management Jerry Grant and Elizabeth Arnett, who is now head of communications and corporate services in Irish Water.

Last week Mr Tierney said the two former RPS executives were hired following an ‘open recruitment’ process.

Mr Tierney will go before the Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht today at 2.15pm, to answer questions about the €50million Irish Water has spent on consultants.

Poolbeg contract may be abandoned (RTÉ)

Previously: The Insiders

The Contract Did Not Confirm With EU Law

Covanta And Dublin City Council: What’s That Funny Smell?

No, Seriously, Why Did A New Jersey-Based Waste Company Employ Phil Hogan’s Golf Buddy?

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