The controversial incinerator at Poolbeg in Dublin is now set to go ahead within weeks.

Management at Dublin City Council has written to city councillors today strongly recommending that the project should proceed.

It is understood that it is likely the other three Dublin local authorities will also make a similar recommendation.

Councillors at the local authorities are due to be fully briefed in person on the issue in the coming days.

While many councillors are strongly opposed to the incinerator, they cannot veto the decision as it is an executive decision for the chief executives of the four local authorities to make.

In a briefing document sent to councillors this afternoon by Dublin City Council, chief executive Owen Keegan said a decision to proceed or abandon the project had to be made.

The decision to go ahead represented both value for money and "by far the best option” for the Dublin local authorities", he said.

Almost €100m has already been spent on the incinerator project to date. It is a public private partnership with US waste company Covanta.