Written answers

Wednesday, 18 May 2005

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Waste Management

9:00 pm

Photo of John DeasyJohn Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the representations he received regarding changes to guidelines on the acceptance of waste; the nature of such representations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16389/05]

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the waste firms which have been in contact with him in relation to the relaxation of planning guidelines for waste facilities such as landfills and incinerators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16354/05]

Photo of Olwyn EnrightOlwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason he has eased planning restrictions on major waste facilities such as landfills and incinerators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16433/05]

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 100 and 168 together.

The most recent waste management policy statement, Taking Stock and Moving Forward, April 2004, recognised that the prohibition on all inter-regional movements of waste could be unduly restrictive in terms of securing the development of waste infrastructure and the objectives of waste management plans. It is the case that most waste facilities currently in place are not subject to conditions which limit the geographic area from which they can take waste. In fact the absence of such restrictions has traditionally allowed local authorities to manage capacity constraints by providing for inter-regional movement of waste. Accordingly, the policy statement provided for an examination of the issues arising in terms of the interrelationship between regional boundaries and waste facilities.

Concerns about the implications of such planning conditions were expressed to my Department by stakeholders from both the public and private sectors. Most notably, the Environmental Protection Agency in its 2001 Waste Database Report recommended that the inter-regional movement and treatment of waste should be provided for in appropriate circumstances.

Following legal advice, I recently issued guidance under section 60 of the Waste Management Act to clarify that the application of the proximity principle in the context of waste management does not entail interpreting administrative waste boundaries in such a manner as to inhibit the development of infrastructure which will support the attainment of national waste policy objectives.

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