Vol. 414 No. 4
163 Mr. J. Bruton, Mr. J. Mitchell, Miss Flaherty, Mr. Connor and Mr. Carey asked the Minister for the Environment if he has information available on (1) the damage to the ozone layer caused by emissions of methane gas and (2) the extent of methane gas emissions from refuse dumps in Ireland; and if he has any plans to minimise these emissions by using the gas for other purposes.
Methane has not been implicated to any significant extent in the depletion of the ozone layer. Total emissions of methane from waste disposal sites in Ireland are estimated at 22,000 tonnes annually. Landfill gas, which has a methane content of about 50-60 per cent has potential for use as a fuel if it can be recovered and used in sufficient quantities. There are currently about seven sites in Ireland which may have potential for landfill gas usage and there is a development proposal for one of these sites, in the Dublin area. Gas migration controls have been installed at the main Cork city landfill site, and the gas is currently being flared. It is however intended to investigate developmental possibilities for this gas in 1992.
