Concerns are being raised about the condition of the River Boyne.

It comes ahead of a decision later this month from An Bord Pleanala in relation to Dawn Meats planning application to build a seven-kilometre pipeline to transfer treated wastewater.

The company wants to discharge 400,000 litres of wastewater into the river at Cotton Mills.

Dawn Meats has said its plans are “consistent with environmental best practice”.

Aontú representative Peter Whelan says the river is at its lowest level for years, just a few hundred metres downstream of the proposed discharge point

He told Meath Live, ‘It’s as low as a grasshoppers ankle, Dawn Meats need to use alternative methods there are plenty proven to work elsewhere.’