Vol. 208 No. 2
asked the Minister for Local Government whether local authorities have any control over the nature of substances put on refuse dumps and, in particular, over toxic substances and dangerous industrial waste; and whether he is satisfied that such controls are sufficient to prevent incidents of animal poisoning, such as have occurred in Britain, by reason of poisonous substances on such dumps.
21.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will hold an enquiry into the disposal of toxic wastes from industry and take such steps as may be necessary, including the introduction of legislation, to control the disposal of industrial waste.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together.
The law relating to the disposal of refuse, including toxic trade effluents, is under consideration by my Department in conjunction with the current general review of sanitary services legislation.
With regard to refuse dumps, the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, requires sanitary authorities to ensure that all dumps are kept so as not to be a nuisance or dangerous to health and such authorities have adequate controls over the nature of material deposited at dumps provided by them and the manner of its disposal.
In so far as water pollution is concerned, the position has been considered by the Inter-Departmental Committee on Water Resources whose report and recommendations are expected shortly. I do not consider that any further special inquiry is necessary at the present stage.
Can the Minister say whether, in fact, any tests are carried out before industrial waste is placed in these dumps?
As I have said, these matters are under consideration at the moment. There is not much known that is useful that I can give the Deputy on the present method of disposal.
