Written answers

Tuesday, 22 February 2022

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Waste Management

Photo of Jackie CahillJackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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111. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he plans to notify local authorities of the extension to the granting of permits to burn green waste on farms, given that Tipperary County Council is yet to receive this notice, in order to allow farmers to avail of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9046/22]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Statutory Instrument No. 51 of 2022 -Waste Management (Prohibition of Waste Disposal by Burning) (Amendment) Regulations 2022- was published on 11th February. The Regulations extend the exemption to the prohibition on the burning of domestic waste and allows farmers, as a last resort, to dispose by burning of waste generated by agricultural practice. This is the fifth extension to the exemption and will run until 1 January 2023. Discussions will shortly commence between officials from my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to come up with alternatives to this practice and I therefore anticipate that this will be the final extension of the exemption.  

All Local Authorities were notified of the extension of the exemption by circular letter on 15th February.

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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112. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there are regulations in place which stop farmers removing waste from buildings (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9086/22]

Photo of Ossian SmythOssian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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The Waste Management Act states that a person may not:- Cause or facilitate the abandonment, dumping or unauthorised management or treatment of waste, or

- Hold, transport, recover or dispose of waste, or treat waste, in a manner that causes or is likely to cause environmental pollution.

The enforcement of waste legislation is a statutory function of local authorities.  Under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act, the Department of Environment, Climate & Communications is precluded from the exercise of any power or control in relation to the performance in particular circumstances of the statutory functions of a local authority, therefore I would suggest that the Deputy contact the local authority concerned in this case.

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