Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number and location of incinerators in use or proposed in the context of waste management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18310/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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There are currently no large scale waste incinerators in Ireland. My Department is aware that a small number of incinerators at industrial plants have been licensed by the EPA. It is also the case that a private company has secured planning and licensing approval for a municipal and a hazardous waste incinerator and, in relation to the latter, has indicated that approval for the treatment of municipal waste may be sought in the future.

Applications by Dublin City Council, on behalf of the Dublin local authorities, for planning and licensing approval for a waste to energy facility in the context of that region's statutory waste management plan are currently before An Bord Pleanala and the Environmental Protection Agency respectively. The other waste management regions in their respective waste management plans identify various approaches to the use of thermal treatment in waste management.

The Programme for Government commits to the setting of new ambitious waste management targets for maximum prevention, re-use, recycling and modern waste treatment to ensure that we match the best performance in the EU for recycling with the objective that only 10% of waste or less is consigned to landfill (down from 66% now). The Programme also includes measures to broaden out our approach to managing residual waste, with an increased emphasis on other technologies, including methods for mechanically and biologically treating waste.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of landfill sites currently being used in respect of waste disposal throughout the country; if similar new facilities are contemplated; the proposed locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18311/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number and location of landfill sites expected to become operational in the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18313/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 253 together.

The waste management plans for which local authorities have statutory responsibility, generally operating in regional groupings, identify the landfill capacity which those authorities consider necessary to meet the needs of each region while meeting national and EU objectives and requirements. My Department does not compile details in respect of existing or proposed facilities and all such facilities are required to be licensed by the EPA. In the context of the demanding landfill diversion targets established by the EU Landfill Directive it is clear that a significant move away from our current reliance on landfill is essential. I anticipate that this will be borne out by the international review of the regional waste management plans which is provided for in the Programme for Government.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his policy in regard to waste management; the extent to which such requirements are expected to be met by way of recycling, landfill or incineration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18312/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government commits to the setting of new ambitious waste management targets for maximum prevention, re-use, recycling and modern waste treatment to ensure that we match the best performance in the EU for recycling with the objective that only 10% of waste or less is consigned to landfill (down from 66% now). The Programme also includes measures to broaden out our approach to managing residual waste, with an increased emphasis on other technologies, including methods for mechanically and biologically treating waste.

Irish waste management policy is based on the internationally recognised integrated approach which places the main emphasis on waste prevention, reuse and recycling. This approach is now delivering demonstrable and successful results. In 1998 Ireland had a recycling rate of just 9% but this had risen to 35% by 2005, reaching a national target set for 2013. Our recycling of packaging waste over the same period rose from 15% to 60%, thus exceeding the 50% EU target set for 2005 and reaching the EU 2011 target.

The Government is determined to build on these achievements and I will be giving this matter priority over the coming months. The review of regional waste management plans provided for in the Programme should also better equip Ireland to achieve ambitious targets.