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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Nov 1994

Vol. 447 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Radioactive Waste.

Richard Bruton

Question:

271 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he has plans to provide centralised storage for radioactive waste in order to prevent the need for long term storage of such materials in hospitals and other such locations. [3519/94]

The storage and disposal of all radioactive waste in Ireland is subject to control by licence under the Radiological Protection Act, 1991 (General Control of Fissile Fuels, Radioactive Substances and Irradiating Apparatus) Order, 1993 (S.I. No. 151 of 1993). These licensing controls are operated by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland.

Radioactive material, in both sealed and unsealed form, is imported for use in industrial, medical and laboratory applications under licence from the institute. At present, all imported sealed radioactive sources must be returned to the original supplier at the end of their useful lives — this is a precondition imposed by the Institute prior to the issue of a licence. In relation to unsealed sources and sealed sources imported before the introduction of regulatory controls in 1997, the licensee is obliged to store waste material safely on his premises until the radioactive content has decayed to levels at which disposal as ordinary domestic waste is permitted.
Inspections of storage of radioactive substances are carried out by the institute. The institute and I are satisfied that the present arrangements in place ensure that all sources of radioactivity are currently stored in a correct manner which does not pose a hazard to people or the environment.
The institute have recommended the establishment of a centralised waste management facility to cater for long term storage of radioactive substances. My Department is keeping this matter under continuous review.
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