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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 30 Jan 1964

Vol. 207 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dumping of Refuse.

64.

asked the Minister for Local Government what are the present regulations with regard to the dumping of refuse and waste by local authorities, or by other persons, adjacent to dwelling houses, where such dumping is a danger to health; and what steps are taken to ensure that such regulations are not infringed.

The regulation of the dumping of refuse is dealt with in the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878. Sections 50 and 55 of the Act require sanitary authorities to ensure that places for the dumping of refuse either by themselves or by the public are kept so as not to be a nuisance or injurious to health.

Section 54 enables urban sanitary authorities to make bye-laws for the prevention of nuisance arising from waste, and this power may be extended to rural sanitary authorities if they so desire. Such bye-laws have been made by a number of sanitary authorities and they generally provide that malodorous refuse may not be deposited (1) within one hundred yards of dwelling houses, schools and places of employment or (2) in any place where it is likely to cause nuisance to any person in such premises unless it is forthwith sufficiently covered or treated so as to prevent the emission of odour. Sections 107 and 108 of the Act, empower sanitary authorities to secure remedial action in respect of any accumulation or deposit in their district which is a nuisance or injurious to health.

Sanitary authorities generally take appropriate steps to detect and remedy any contraventions of these provisions.

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