Vol. 434 No. 9
40 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to consult with county councils, and in particular Dublin County Council, about waste management legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
62 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to consult with County Councils and, in particular, Dublin County Council, about waste management legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
169 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment if work has commenced on the Waste Bill, and if so, when, and when will it be completed; and when the Environmental Protection Agency will take over responsibility for waste management.
Wexford): I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 62 and 169 together.
The general scheme of a Waste Bill, on which interdepartmental consultation has been completed, will be submitted for Government approval very shortly.
A consultative seminar has already been held in July, 1992 for the purpose of facilitating input by all interested parties, including local authority interests, to the preparation of the Bill. Local authorities and others will have further opportunities to comment when the Bill is published.
The Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 provides for a number of direct functions in the waste management area for the new Agency, as well as for the possibility of transferring certain other waste management functions to the Agency. It is envisaged that the Waste Bill will assign an even more substantial, although not exclusive, role in the waste management area to the Environmental Protection Agency. Implementation of these provisions will be progressed in line with the development of the Waste Bill and the mobilisation of the Agency.
