asked the Minister for Local Government if he will make a statement on the proposals before his Department for the formulation of an effective overall waste management policy that would meet the needs of both environmental protection and economic objectives.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waste Management Policy.
15.
Overall policy involves a number of Departments and the matter will fall to be considered by the Inter-Departmental Environment Committee. My primary concern with waste is to ensure that the collection and disposal services provided by local authorities are operated adequately and efficiently from both the economic and environmental points of view. I have taken a number of steps to this end. I have asked local authorities to reorganise their operations using modern equipment and tipping methods to improve standards and efficiency, and I have drawn attention to the need for close supervision over private dumping operations. I have also undertaken a general review of the adequacy of existing controls on waste collection and disposal to ascertain whether there is need for strengthening provisions to deal with emerging problems and to give effect to certain EEC directive proposals. Although recycling is not an area in which local authorities have any traditional role nor any statutory functions, I consider that they should also do what they can in the context of their waste operations to encourage and facilitate the recovery of useful materials from waste. I have already made some suggestions to them in this area and other possibilities are being examined. I have asked that the contribution which local authorities might make to recycling should be given priority in the continuation of research in relation to waste which An Foras Forbartha has undertaken.
Would the Minister state whether he is prepared to make grants available to local authorities to enable them to implement the proposals he has now suggested?
I do not think that is necessary. The local authorities are at present collecting waste and making money out of it. Therefore, the question of making grants available for this purpose does not arise. If it does, it will be considered.
It certainly arises.
I can tell the Minister who wrote the reply.
If the Deputy said that in English I might be able to understand it.