Donegal County Council has launched an investigation into claims of a strong odour coming from a company on the Gaoth Dobhair Industrial estate.
It follows a number of complaints from local people in the area in recent months.
The council has confirmed it has carried out an inspection of the area and plans a further inspection.
Local county councillor Micheal Mac Giolla Easbuig said there are a lot of people in the area including a creche which is on site at the industrial estate.
“This has been going on for a number of months now and it simply has to stop. We have to find the root of this problem and prevent it from happening.
“Both Donegal County Council and Udaras na Gaeltachta have a responsibility to ensure that we find out what is causing this smell and if it is harmful to people.
“At the very least it is an unpleasant smell but we simply do not know what harm it is doing by being released into the air,” he said.
Donegal County Council said discharges to air, water or sewer are covered by different legislation such as the Air Pollution Act, Solvents Regulations or Water Pollution Act.
If companies do not hold the appropriate licences or certification, the EPA or local authority may take enforcement action in order to regularise such matters, eg- in the past Donegal Co. Council has prosecuted companies for discharging trade effluent to waters in the absence of a licence to do so.
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