Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I am interested that the Minister indicated his review is a new way forward. Since Deputy Gormley became Minister, there have been many new ways forward. Indaver Ireland's incinerator capacity for its proposed County Meath plant was 150,000 tonnes. It was recently given permission to increase this capacity to 250,000 tonnes. The proposed Poolbeg incinerator will have a capacity of 600,000 tonnes. An American firm has lodged a planning application for an incinerator in south Dublin with a 365,000 tonnes capacity. The system for thermal treatment of waste has already reached over-capacity.

Will the Minister request local authorities under the relevant section of the Waste Management Acts to review their waste management strategies? We do not need eight incinerators at regional level, a view the Minister shares. Whether we like it, decisions will be made on the capacity for thermal treatment or incineration. Why is the Minister talking about a new way forward considering the figures available to us?

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