Councillor calls for extended opening hours for Coolmine recycling centre

Sinn Féin Councillor Angela Donnelly has urged Fingal County Council to expand the opening hours of Coolmine Recycling Centre, She says the extended opening hours would align the centre with the nearby Estuary Recycling Centre in Swords.

At present, the centre at Coolmine is open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, while the Esuary centre is open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am to 6pm on Saturday.

She said that residents in Dublin 15 and surrounding areas are being “disenfranchised” by the existing schedule and change was needed.

Donnelly said that Coolmine Recycling Centre has seen a surge in the number of vehicles, from 10,000 in August 2022 to 14,000 in August 2023. A 2022 review of both recycling centres by Fingal County Council showed that the operational costs had risen without a corresponding increase in charges since 2012.

Councillor Donnelly opposed linking the extension of Coolmine’s opening hours to the rising recycling costs, noting that during last year’s budget meeting, Sinn Féin presented a motion seeking to discount the proposed increases in charges related to recycling centres.

The party argued at the time that the charges were not agreed upon by the Special Policy Committee.

Although the motion was defeated, assurances were given that any charge increases would only be implemented following consultation and agreement with council members.

In this year’s budget meeting, where €363 million in funding was approved for Fingal County Councillor, Donnelly proposed a motion specifically targeting the extension of Coolmine Recycling Centre’s opening hours, aiming to separate this issue from potential future cost hikes.

The motion, however, was not carried, with a “specific cost figure for the extended hours” and “the identification of an impractical funding stream,” cited as factors.

Director of Services Mary T Daly acknowledged the consideration of extended hours, but highlighted that it was contingent on the possible reassignment of workers transferred to Uisce Éireann.

Furthermore, Daly indicated that any changes would likely take place toward the end of 2024.