Vol. 483 No. 6
277 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children the current position regarding hospital waste incineration in the Dublin region; the proposals, if any, for the incineration of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21140/97]
The current position regarding hospital waste incineration in the Dublin region is that all hospital incinerators have ceased operating and there are no proposals for incineration in the future.
There is a proposal for an alternative disposal service, and a joint waste management board, which is representative of my Department and the Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland, has received tenders for the service of collection, treatment and disposal of healthcare risk waste throughout the island of Ireland.
A number of delays have occurred in the tender process but it is hoped that a contract can be signed in the near future. The treatment process will be a non-incineration one employing shredding and disinfection. In the meantime healthcare risk waste continues to be collected and exported, by a number of waste management contractors, for incineration abroad.
