Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the proposed Poolbeg incinerator, Dublin; if he will provide update on any contacts or discussion he or his Department have had with Dublin City Council and with Covanta since 1 September 2012; and if the incinerator will be going ahead. [44508/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Waste to Energy facility proposed for Poolbeg is being developed by Dublin City Council on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities as part of the implementation of the region’s waste management plan, which is a statutory responsibility of local authorities under section 22 of the Waste Management Act 1996.  Therefore, the progression of the project is a matter for parties to the contract, Dublin City Council and its private partner.

Given its overall responsibility for national waste and its role in relation to compliance with relevant EU obligations and requirements, my Department maintains ongoing contact with local authorities in relation to the implementation of waste management plans. In relation to the Poolbeg project, my Department has most recently sought an update on the matter from the City Manager in order to provide information to the Public Accounts Committee and the European Commission. The report of the Manager to the September meeting of the City Council was received by the Department and forwarded to the Clerk of the Committee on 19 September 2012. The report indicated that significant progress had been made by Covanta in relation to securing project financing for construction of the plant and by Dublin City Council in dealing with the remaining regulatory issues. It stated that the due diligence procedure is far protracted and therefore it was necessary to consider an extension to the decision/commencement date. It indicated that it would be at least four to six weeks before the revised date could be confirmed.