Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 439: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost to the taxpayer if Dublin City Council breaks its contract with a company (details supplied) to build and operate an incinerator at Poolbeg, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9207/12]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 440: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has had any contact or correspondence with a company (details supplied) with respect to its proposal to take over the building and operation of an incinerator on the Poolbeg peninsula, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9208/12]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 442: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the alternative plans he has in place for the disposal of waste produced in the Dublin region in the event that the Poolbeg incinerator is not built; if he will detail any plans that have been drawn up by him or the contracting local authorities for such an eventuality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9210/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 439, 440 and 442 together.

In accordance with the provisions of the Waste Management Acts, the preparation and adoption of a waste management plan, including in respect of infrastructure provision, is the statutory responsibility of the local authority or authorities concerned, and under section 60(3) of the Act the Minister is precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance by a local authority, in particular circumstances, of a statutory function vested in it.

I understand that an exploratory proposed alternative project has been put to the City Council and other organisations involved in waste management in Dublin; a communication which the company concerned issued on this matter on 3 February 2012 was copied to my Department for information. ..I also understand that the parties to the contract in respect of the Poolbeg facility are in a period of review. As the project is being advanced by Dublin City Council, acting on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities, questions concerning the status of the project, and any issues relating to the costs that may arise in specific contractual scenarios, should be directed to the City Council. Regard could also be had to relevant aspects of the report commissioned by my predecessor from Mr. John Hennessy SC, in relation to certain risks associated with the project in particular scenarios which, in the interests of openness and transparency, I published on my Department's website (www.environ.ie ) in June 2011, subject to the redaction of certain commercially sensitive information. The Programme for Government commits to the development of a coherent national waste policy, adhering to the waste hierarchy, which will aim to minimise waste disposal in landfill and maximise recovery. I am prioritising this commitment, as I am anxious to provide early regulatory certainty, in the form of both policy and legislation, to ensure that the necessary actions and investments are progressed to achieve those aims. I expect to be in a position to submit final proposals in relation to national waste policy to Government by Easter this year.

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the annual capacity in tonnes here for the disposal of waste; the annual amount of waste in tonnes currently produced here; if he will list the facilities currently in operation here that accept and process waste for long term storage or disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9209/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Details regarding waste generated and disposal capacity are contained in the National Waste Reports published annually by the Environmental Protection Agency, copies of which are available on the Agency's website at www.epa.

The National Waste Report 2009, which is the latest such published report, indicated that a total of 2.95 million tonnes of municipal waste was generated that year. 29 active landfills, listed in Table 39 of the report, accepted municipal waste for disposal in 2009. At the end of that year, the remaining fully consented municipal solid waste landfill capacity was approximately 28 million tonnes nationally; details are contained in Table 40 of the report.

I understand that the 2010 National Waste Report will be published shortly.