John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the discussions he has had with the management of Dublin City Council concerning the Strategic Infrastructure Bill 2006 and the possibility that the Ringsend incinerator project might be delayed to take advantage of the proposed new planning process; the powers he has to prevent the city council management from delaying the project in this way; the assurances he may have received from the city manager in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9776/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As I have previously stated, my Department's role in the approval process for this proposed waste to energy plant is limited to validating compliance with public policy on procurement by way of public-private partnership, as laid down in guidelines issued by the Department of Finance. Having reviewed the detailed proposals of Dublin City Council, and consulted with the National Development Finance Agency, my Department is satisfied that the project is designed to provide value for money within the parameters of the above guidelines and certified its compliance accordingly in September 2005.

It is now a matter for Dublin City Council to finalise contractual arrangements with the private partner and advance the project through the statutory physical planning and environmental licensing process. My Department is precluded from involvement in these processes and has neither sought nor received assurances from Dublin City Council in their regard.

The regulatory processes to be applied to the project will be those in force at the time the approvals are sought. I expect that approval will have been sought for the facility before the Bill becomes law.