asked the Minister for Energy if his Department have assessed, or if it is proposed to assess the economic and environmental implications of waste incineration for the generation of electricity or heat for district heating systems; and if he will make the reports of any such assessments available to Members of Dáil Éireann.
Written Answers - Waste Incineration.
133.
In pursuit of the objective of diversifying energy sources and utilising domestic resources, my Department is favourably disposed towards proposals to use domestic refuse and other waste for the generation of heat and electricity where it is economic to do so. The Department itself has not carried out assessments of waste incineration as such assessments must take account of particular situations. However it is aware that a number of local authorities and the ESB have had feasibility studies of waste incineration and district heating carried out some years ago. The economics of such schemes would have been adversely affected by the fall in oil and other fuel prices. The environmental aspects of any specific proposals are a matter for the Minister for the Environment.