asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make a statement on future waste disposal policy, in particular relating to proposals to deal with hazardous waste materials.
50.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waste Disposal Policy.
10.
asked the Minister for the Environment in view of the recent reports in the daily newspapers concerning the proposed central waste facility at Baldonnel, County Dublin, if he will give the up-to-date position concerning this proposed development.
60.
asked the Minister for the Environment the present position regarding the Baldonnel Toxic Waste Facility proposal in his Department; if he can now confirm that the plan to propose a facility at this location has been discontinued; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
61.
asked the Minister for the Environment the up-to-date position concerning the proposed central waste facility at Baldonnel, County Dublin.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 50, 60 and 61 together. The objective of waste disposal policy is to ensure that all wastes, and particularly any hazardous waste which call for special disposal arrangements, are safely disposed of without risk to public health or to the environment. The proposal to provide a central waste transfer station at Baldonnel to facilitate the export of hazardous wastes for which suitable disposal facilities were not otherwise available was a primary element in national waste strategy which was first announced over five years ago. Since then, it has become evident that new initiatives in the private waste disposal sector could have a significant bearing on the proposal and it was necessary to review it in the light of these developments. The proposal is still under detailed examination. I will make a public statement in the matter as soon as possible.
Will the Minister confirm if the Baldonnel facility has been discontinued or if there is still a possibility that it may be used? Will he indicate whether it is the view of his Department that the question of dealing with hazardous wastes is a matter of national policy or if it comes within the ambit of local authorities? Does his Department have any monitoring capability by way of scientists to ensure that these materials can be disposed of safely?
The question as to the future of the Baldonnel proposal is still under consideration. I hope to make an announcement about it in the near future. As far as policy responsibility is concerned the obligation is shared by national and local government. If, for example, the private sector disposal arrangements were to become reality there actual implementation and monitoring would almost certainly involve local authorities or various public authorities at a local level. However, there is an overall obligation on national Government to ensure that there are adequate disposal facilities available for the different types of hazardous wastes which are being produced or which may evolve. There are no scientists in my Department but the resources of various State bodies are available and there are public authorities who have the necessary technical expertise which may be required in order to provide monitoring arrangements in certain circumstances.
Where exactly are the hazardous wastes that are produced at present disposed of and under whose control and monitoring are they disposed of? Can the Minister enumerate the locations where these wastes are dumped? How many, if any, are there?
If the Deputy tables that question I will have the information prepared and made available to him.
I would have thought that was precisely the question I asked. I asked the Minister if he will make a statement on waste disposal policy, in particular relating to proposals to deal with harzardous waste materials.
The question asks me to make the statement in relation to future waste disposal policy, not present arrangements.