Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 2 Jul 1992

Vol. 422 No. 1

Written Answers. - Clinical Waste.

Jim Mitchell

Question:

66 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if he has now made a final decision not to proceed with a central clinical waste incinerator at St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8; if so, if he will confirm that he wrote to a Member of Dáil Éireann to that effect on 24 June 1992, in reply to a letter (details supplied) from that Member on the same date; and if he will outline the reason (a) another Member who raised this matter much earlier with him, both personally and through correspondence, was not informed of the decision at the same time, (b) the Residents Co-Ordinating Committee, who have so assiduously campaigned against the proposal, were not simultaneously informed of the decision and (c) no reference to this decision was made by him in his replies to 12 parliamentary questions on clinical waste to which he replied also on 24 June; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Tony Gregory

Question:

76 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the recent decision not to proceed with the proposal for a central incinerator for hospital waste at St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 76 together.

I have recently decided that the proposal to site a central incinerator for the disposal of hospital waste from the Dublin area at St. James's Hospital will not be implemented. The considerations which have influenced my decision not to proceed with this proposal include the technical difficulties likely to be encountered in achieving the required standards on the St. James's Hospital site and the concerns which have been expressed by many individuals and organisations in relation to the proposal.

I communicated my decision to the Minister for Finance on 24th June, 1992 in view of the financial implications for the Exchequer of not proceeding with a project of this size and of the representations which he had made to me on the issue. The process of informing the interested parties of my decision was initiated immediately. I will be available at any time to discuss the matter with the Residents Co-Ordinating Committee.