Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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422. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the role his Department plays in the monitoring of pollution emanating from the Ringsend incinerator. [51762/18]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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423. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has received concerns or reports regarding high levels of air pollution in Dublin Bay emanating from the incinerator at Ringsend during the months of October and November 2018. [51763/18]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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424. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has received concerns or reports regarding high levels of air pollution in Dublin Bay emanating from the incinerator at Ringsend on 4 December 2018. [51764/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 422 to 424, inclusive, together.

My role as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment in relation to waste management is to provide a comprehensive legislative and policy framework through which the relevant regulatory bodies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, operate.

I have no role in relation to the operation of the plant. The licensing of the plant is a matter for the Environmental Protection Agency. As Minister, I am constrained by the provisions of Sections 79(3) and 86(5) of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 (as amended) from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance in particular circumstances by the Agency of a function assigned to the Agency under that Act. The Agency has made information on the plant available on their website The plant itself also provides information available at

The EPA noted in its opening address to the Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment on 6 December, 2018 that "The EPA is aware of the public concerns regarding emissions from the Poolbeg facility in particular.  While compliance with the licence conditions will ensure that air quality standards are not exceeded, the EPA installed an ambient air quality monitoring station in Ringsend in July 2017 to provide additional assurance and information to the public.  Real time monitoring results are available on the EPA website.  Results to date show that the air quality recorded in Ringsend is compliant with national air quality standards and is consistent with air quality elsewhere in Dublin ."