Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his policy in relation to waste incineration here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26083/08]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether incineration is required as part of the Government's waste management strategy; if so, the tonnage capacity required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26084/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together.

The Programme for Government contains a range of commitments in respect of waste management policy centred on the Government's continued support for the internationally recognised waste hierarchy which places major emphasis on the prevention, reuse and recycling of waste while minimising reliance on landfill and incineration. This commitment to the waste hierarchy has added significance in the context of the requirements of the EU Landfill Directive to divert waste from landfill. Meeting this obligation will entail doubling the existing level of diversion from landfill by 2010 and further increases in diversion in subsequent years. This is a process which will be assisted by the major review of waste policy, also provided for in the Programme, which is now underway and which will address how best to implement waste prevention and minimisation, and the emergence of new technologies in waste management.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way a private incinerator (details supplied) in County Dublin is classified as an exempt development; the criteria required for a development to be classified as an exempt development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26085/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Section 4 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 provide for exempted developments for the purposes of the Act.

The Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 amended the 2000 Act to provide for the introduction of a new consent process for specified classes of infrastructure of regional or national importance. The Seventh Schedule of the 2000 Act lists particular classes of environmental, energy and transport infrastructure that may be deemed strategic infrastructure for the purposes of Sections 37A and 37B of the Act. This Schedule includes waste disposal installations for the incineration of hazardous and non-hazardous waste.

A decision on whether or not a proposed development should be subject to the new consent process is a matter for determination by An Bord Pleanála under the pre-application consultation procedures set out under the Act.

I understand that following a pre-application meeting in December 2007 between a prospective applicant and An Bord Pleanála, the project in question was deemed by the Board to be strategic infrastructure. A planning application and environmental impact statement was subsequently submitted to the Board, and will shortly be available for public inspection and the making of submissions and observations.