Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 50: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of incinerators that will be required to deal with municipal waste; the locations of these incinerators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28584/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I refer to the reply to Question No. 35 on today's order paper, in which I again confirmed that I have not made any statement in regard to the number of municipal waste incinerators which may be required. In accordance with the provisions of waste management legislation decisions in respect of the number of municipal waste incinerators which may be required are the responsibility of local authorities, in the context of the regional waste management plans for which they have statutory responsibility, and of commercial enterprises in relation to private sector facilities. All such proposed facilities are subject to statutory planning and waste licence approval processes and my Department has no function in that regard.

I do not consider that incineration should be the cornerstone of the national approach to waste management. The Programme for Government reflects this in placing emphasis on developing the potential of other technologies involving the mechanical and biological treatment of significant quantities of municipal waste. The major international review of waste management policy which is provided for in the Government's programme is now being initiated by my Department and will in part focus on how best to advance the use of the full range of technologies available for waste management.