Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

For a start, no company should ever have to wait years for a decision from the Government on anything, and that stands to reason. The EPA tells me that it has only ever received 68 end of waste applications. Of these, 13 have been delivered, with a further 13 applications deemed to be abandoned or withdrawn. Of the remaining 42 applications on hand, which is more than the number the Deputy stated, 21 applications are considered as under active assessment, while a further 21 will be allocated and assessed in due course. Of the 21 that are under active assessment, one is at advanced stage, five further applications relating to recycled aggregates are being assessed and will be progressed in parallel, 12 have undergone initial assessment, two relate to national applications and one relates to fertiliser material. It is important that we keep track of what is the actual data, how long things are taking and so on.

I accept there is an issue that needs to be addressed and the upcoming Bill will address it. I hope I can engage with the Deputy on that to ensure the right provisions are there to fix the problem as it is, but we need to assess what it is.

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