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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 May 1998

Vol. 490 No. 7

Written Answers. - Waste Management.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

198 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reasons for the delay in introducing regulations as provided for under the Waste Management Act, 1996 to allow local authorities grant permits to collect waste; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties that this delay has caused to local authorities who are seeking to ensure an effective waste management regime within their functional areas; the state of preparation of the draft regulations for this purpose; when he intends to bring these regulations into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11352/98]

An extensive legislative programme is being pursued in my Department to ensure that appropriate legislative controls are in place before the end of 1998 in relation to all activities involving the collection, transportation, recovery or disposal of waste. There is no undue delay in this regard. To date in 1998, the waste management legislative programme has included the European Communities (Licensing of Incineration of Hazardous Waste) Regulations, which were made on 11 March 1998, and the proposed Waste Management (Packaging) (Amendment) Regulations, 1998, which were notified to the European Commission on 2 April 1998 by way of formal advance notice, as required.

I will shortly be making regulations to provide for controls on the movement of hazardous waste, including imports, exports and consignments within Ireland; controls the use of sewage sludge for the improvement of agricultural land; an extension of the range of waste disposal and recovery activities which require a waste licence from the Environmental Protection Agency; the operation by local authorities of a system of waste permits in respect of other waste recovery and disposal activities; controls relating to the management of waste asbestos, batteries, oils PCBs/PCTs and other hazardous waste and the operation of a waste collection permit system by local authorities under section 34 of the Act. The drafting of regulations for these purposes is well advanced.
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