Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number and location of incineration waste management facilities in existence or proposed throughout Leinster and the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9770/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number and location of landfill waste management facilities in existence or proposed throughout Leinster and the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9771/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if incineration and landfill will be the main methods of waste management in the greater Dublin area and throughout the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9772/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans in respect of waste management for the greater Dublin area and the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9773/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 to 174, inclusive, together.

Under the Waste Management Acts the statutory responsibility for waste management planning, including in respect of infrastructure provision, rests with local authorities, generally acting in regional groupings. Section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996 precludes Ministerial involvement, in particular circumstances, in a matter for which local authorities have statutory responsibility. I have no function in determining the number or location of waste management facilities. Any such facilities would require planning permission and a waste licence. Under the Planning and Development Acts and the Waste Management Acts, I am also precluded from involvement in these independent statutory processes.

The 2007 Programme for Government contained a commitment to carry out an international review of waste management plans, practices and procedures and act on its conclusions. In November 2009 consultants delivered a major international report on waste management policy. My Department is currently examining this report and its recommendations, which are central in further informing the measures that may be necessary to underpin sustainable waste management services, whether delivered by the private or public sectors.

The renewed Programme for Government 2009 contains a commitment to the adoption and implementation of a new waste policy following the completion of the review. Giving effect to this commitment is one of my immediate priorities and the Government has recently endorsed my approach to a new waste policy statement, which I will bring to Government shortly, and publish for public consultation.