Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 571: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the problems being experienced by gardeners who seek a permit to deposit waste into landfill facilities at Clondalkin and Fassaroe, Bray; the bureaucracy and cost associated with the procedures; if he will intervene to assist this business to streamline the regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26433/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Under the Waste Management Acts statutory responsibility for the granting of a waste permit rests with the local authority (or local authorities) concerned. The Minister has no function in this regard and my Department is not aware of the particular cases referred to in the Question.

The Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations, 2001, which provide for a system of permitting by local authorities of commercial waste collection activities, have in the main operated well. However, in recognition of concerns expressed by the business sector, and of the need better to reflect current waste management practices, my Department is revising and amending the regulations to address issues of cost and administrative complexity. The Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, which I will shortly finalise, will inter alia minimise the administrative and cost burden on applicants and harmonise the administration and implementation of the permitting system.