Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Broughan for raising a matter obviously very much in the interests of his community.

Under the Waste Management Act 1996, as amended, local authorities have a statutory duty to make a waste management plan for the prevention, minimisation, collection, recovery and disposal of non-hazardous waste. Dublin City Council, as the lead authority for the four Dublin local authorities, completed the review of its waste management plan late last year, and a plan is now in place for the period from 2005 to 2010. Local authorities have a statutory duty under section 38 of the Waste Management Act 1996 to provide and operate, or to arrange for the provision and operation of, facilities for recovery and disposal of household waste arising within their functional areas.

Government policy on waste management, as set out in the policy statement Waste Management — Changing our Ways, is based on the internationally adopted hierarchy of options that places greater emphasis on waste prevention, followed by minimisation, re-use, energy recovery and finally, the environmentally sustainable disposal of residual waste. We must concentrate, therefore, on more and more recycling facilities to ensure the general public has easy access to a large number of high-quality facilities. Increased levels of recycling will in turn lead to reduced levels of waste going to landfill for final disposal.

The issues raised by Deputy Broughan are a matter solely for Dublin City Council at official and elected member level, and my Department has no role in the matter. However, I understand from Dublin City Council that the council is proposing to place a manned bring bank facility at Mount Olive Park, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5, which will take up 10% of the open space at the location. The location of the proposed facility is in line with the current waste management plan for the Dublin region, and the particular site in Kilbarrack is listed in the plan.

The council will require planning approval under Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2003 for this facility. Under section 4 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, local authorities are exempt from planning permission when they carry out development in their own functional areas. However, Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2003 sets out the procedures for public consultation that must be followed by local authorities where they propose certain classes of development. It is open to any individual to submit comments or observations on the proposed development as part of the planning process.

In this case, Dublin City Council also intends to consult local residents prior to beginning the planning approval process. The bring bank facility will also require a certificate of registration from the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, in order to operate. On the designation of the park in question, section 67 — and Schedule 13 — of the Local Government Act 2001 empower local authorities to promote the interests of the local community regarding amenity, recreation and other functions. That includes the provision of parks, gardens, open spaces, playgrounds etc. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the extent to which those facilities should be provided and to allocate resources accordingly.

Decisions on what should be provided are properly left to local authorities themselves, as they are in the best position to assess the level of need in their area and how best to address it. There will, therefore, be ample opportunities for all interested parties to convey their views to Dublin City Council on the proposal to locate a manned bring bank facility at this location.

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