asked the Minister for Local Government if he has examined the feasibility of providing refuse incineration plants in Dublin, Cork, and other centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Refuse Incineration Plants.
2.
It is a matter for each local authority to decide on their waste disposal arrangements. My Department keep developments regarding methods of disposal under review. The evidence available at present indicates that incineration is an extremely expensive method of disposal as compared with traditional methods. Apart from the cost factor, incineration of waste requires a high energy input and can create considerable amenity problems.
Is the Minister aware that the sanitary authorities have neither the money nor the technical advice to embark on programmes for the purchase of incineration equipment?
The sanitary authorities?
They have neither the money nor the expertise.
Where do the sanitary authorities come into this.
Are not the sanitary authorities responsible?
Refuse collection is a matter for the county councils. They got an allocation and over the years they have made arrangements for waste disposal. Surely Deputy O'Leary does not suggest that the State should tell the local authorities what they should do with their waste, how they should collect it and then pay for it. I do not think that would be a reasonable approach.
Is the Minister aware that the local authorities are looking for guidance from the central authority?
They have got guidance.
They want technical advice on the methods they should use. They want direction and guidelines.
They have not got a direction but they have got guidelines. Those who asked for additional information got it. An Foras Forbartha carried out an investigation into the whole question of waste disposal. All local authorities have been advised to make the best provision they can for waste disposal. They got numerous circulars on this issue and they discussed it with my officials. It is simply a question of money and it cannot be made available by the Department.
Is the Minister aware that is most undesirable from an amenity point of view, apart from anything else, that refuse dumps should be sited on primary roads leading out of provincial towns and cities?
That is a separate question.
If that is the position, the local authorities should be faulted. The Deputy's question has nothing to do with that. He asked me if I had examined the feasibility of providing refuse incineration plants in Dublin, Cork and other centres, and my reply is that the advice I got was that this would be too expensive.
Would the Minister say how his Department weigh cost against amenity?