asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give details and particulars of his plans, if any, to provide a centre for hazardous wastes at Baldonnel, County Dublin.
258.
Written Answers. - Baldonnel (Dublin) Hazardous Wastes Centre.
257.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that there are strong objections from all residents in the vicinity of the proposed centre for hazardous wastes at Baldonnel, County Dublin; and if in these circumstances he will discontinue all plants for such a centre there.
259.
asked the Minister for the Environment if his Department will make an application to Dublin County Council for a centre for hazardous wastes at Baldonnel, County Dublin.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 257, 258 and 259 together.
The decision to locate the facility at Baldonnel was taken by my predecessor who in the period between the holding of the election and the change of Government entered into a binding commitment to purchase the site at Baldonnel.
The purpose of the proposed waste centre is to provide a collecting point for those hazardous wastes for which alternative satisfactory means of disposal are not at present available. It is intended that initially the centre will be used as a depot for the bulking up of wastes for export. Treatment of waste may be undertaken at the centre in the future but only if this is seen to be justified by the quantities of waste being received and the economic considerations.
The development of the centre will be undertaken by the National Building Agency who will be applying to Dublin County Council in the normal way for planning permission for the project. The agency will be drawing on the best available expertise in the design and planning of the project thereby ensuring that the highest safety and environmental standards are observed.
I am aware that there has been criticism of the project. It would seem that this criticism is based in the main on a misconception of the nature and purpose of the proposed facility, as I have described it. There have been repeated references to the provision of a toxic waste dump and it is understandable that this has caused unease. I wish to give a categorical assurance that such a description is absolutely inaccurate. No waste of any kind will be tipped or dumped on the site. The facility will resemble a small factory or warehouse complex and will cause no more inconvenience than such an establishment would cause.
It is generally recognised and accepted at this stage that a facility of the kind planned is absolutely essential both as a support for industrial development and employment provision, and in order to avoid a situation in which potentially harmful wastes are disposed of by unsafe means.