Deirdre Clune
Question:5 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the action he is taking to reduce the number of old cars that are being illegally dumped; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14764/00]
Ceisteanna–Questions. Priority Questions. - Waste Management.
It is incumbent on the owner of an end-of-life vehicle, ELV, to dispose of it in a responsible manner, by transferring it to one of a number of facilities that have been permitted under the Waste Management (Permit) Regulations, 1998, to undertake the dismantling and recovery of such vehicles.
Section 32(1) of the Waste Management Act, 1996, prohibits the holding, transport, recovery or disposal of waste in a manner that causes or is likely to cause environmental pollution. This general duty of care applies, inter alia, to the owner of an ELV. Section 71 of the 1996 Act specifically prohibits the abandonment of vehicles on any land and empowers local authorities to deal appropriately with abandoned cars. The enforcement and implementation of these provisions is a matter for individual local authorities.
My Department has initiated discussions with the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, SIMI, with a view to the development by the industry of a producer responsibility initiative in relation to ELVs. It is intended that such an initiative would, in particular, take account of a draft EU Parliament and Council directive on end-of-life vehicles. This draft directive incorporates a number of significant proposals, including measures aimed at preventing waste from vehicles, increasing the recovery of ELVs and their components, ensuring that relevant economic operators establish collection systems for all ELVs and ensuring that vehicles are dismantled and recovered in a manner which does not cause environmental pollution.
Initial proposals for an ELV management system for Ireland were submitted by SIMI in December 1999, and were circulated for consultation to various Departments and State agencies and a number of representative associations and other bodies. On foot of the various submissions received my Department will shortly seek further discussions with SIMI and other concerned parties to progress the development of a cohesive and practicable industry-led scheme. It would be my objective to secure agreement on an accept able vehicle recovery scheme not later than autumn of this year.
It has come to my attention that since the national car test was introduced the number of abandoned vehicles littered around the countryside has increased, yet the Minster has said he will not finalise proposals with the Society of the Irish Motor Industry until the autumn. The Minister knew this test was about to be introduced and that it would have the effect of increasing the number of cars classified as useless. A reply to a question I tabled to the Minister informed me that since the test was introduced 4,504 cars had failed as at 18 April. Where are those cars? Are they littered around the countryside? What are people to do with them?
I agree there has been a visible increase in the number of cars abandoned in various parts of the country. In relation to the statistic about the 4,504 cars that have failed the national car test, a number of those have been retested.
Some 27,000 failed the first test and on a retest of those 4,504 failed.
Those are not the cars I worry about but rather those that do not turn up for the test which is a considerably larger number. There is an obligation on the owners of these cars to dispose of them in a responsible manner. Local authorities have an obligation under the Waste Management Act, 1996, to take action in relation to the enforcement and implementation of these provisions. As well as those obligations we are trying to put in place a producer-led scheme, similar to the REPAK scheme for repackaging waste. The obligation will not be taken away from the individual to dispose of his or her car in a responsible manner. The new producer-led scheme will be more effective than the Waste Management Act in relation to individuals and local authorities.
While I accept there are obligations, they are not strong enough and are not working. As the Minister has acknowledged the number of abandoned cars has increased visibly. What will happen between now and the autumn prior to the new initiative being put in place? Driving through the countryside I see those cars rotting away. There appears to be no interest on the part of the local authorities to tackle the problem. Will the Minister intervene in some way? Given the criticisms of litter in the countryside and criticisms in many quarters of this being a dirty nation, it is unacceptable and should be dealt with.
I agree it is totally unacceptable and people should not act in this irresponsible manner. The only way it can be tackled currently is by the local authorities enforcing the provisions of the Waste Management Act. In deference to what the Deputy has said I will avail of the opportunity over the next few weeks when meeting managers to emphasise the need to take action in this area. As the Deputy has rightly said this is becoming a more visible pollution problem and one that needs to be tackled.