Noel Dempsey
Question:30 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports regarding the stockpiling of medical waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17847/96]
Written Answers. - Medical Waste.
Noel Dempsey
Question:51 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself that there is adequate provision for the disposal of medical waste. [17846/96]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 51 together.
Making provision for the disposal of medical waste is a matter for the health agency at which the waste arises. The long-term solution to the problem of the disposal of the waste which arises from the provision of health care is being addressed by a joint waste management body, representative of my Department and the Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland. Currently tenders are being sought for the collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of health care risk waste within Ireland. The programme envisages the appointment of a contractor by the end of this year and the commencement of the service before the end of 1997.
In the meantime, health boards and voluntary hospitals have made arrangements with waste management contractors to collect their health care risk waste and export it for treatment in the United Kingdom. I am aware that on 10 October the contractor dealing with the majority of these exports wrote to his customer hospitals informing them that collections would cease immediately. My Department wrote to the health agencies advising them to provide refrigerated storage until exports could resume.
In addition my Department sought disposal routes to other countries and, on 24 October, confirmed its acceptance of the proposals made by an Irish waste management company to have this waste exported to the Netherlands for incineration. Although exports to the UK have now resumed and the waste stored on hospital sites has been substantially cleared, it is necessary to keep the Netherlands route open in the interest of ensuring continuity of service.