Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Waste Management.

Paddy McHugh

Question:

698 Mr. McHugh asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a survey which was recently carried out by an expert group in Trinity College Dublin in relation to birth defects in children born to mothers living near landfill sites; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the results of the survey show that, for instance, mothers living within 1.25 miles of a landfill were 2.5 times more likely to have a child with birth defects; if, in view of this, legislation or regulations will be introduced to put in place new exclusionary measures including a minimum distance of at least 2.5 km from the extremity of a landfill to the nearest dwelling house; if a stipulation will be incorporated into such legislation or regulations that landfill siting should not result in the compulsory relocation of householders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20390/02]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

I understand research is being undertaken by the Trinity centre for health sciences concerning possible health effects associated with landfill sites, but that a report on the matter has yet to be finalised and published. Accordingly, I cannot comment on any putative findings. Council Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste provides that the location of a landfill must take into consideration requirements relating, among other things, to the distances from the boundary of the proposed site to residential areas, and stipulates that a landfill can be authorised only if the characteristics of the site with respect to this and other specified requirements, or corrective measures to be taken, indicate that the landfill does not pose a serious environmental risk.

Under the Waste Management (Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations, 2002 and the European Communities (Amendment of Waste Management (Licensing) Regulations, 2000) Regulations, 2002, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to give effect to the requirements of Directive 1999/31/EC in determining an application for a waste licence in respect of a landfill facility. The waste licensing system operated by the EPA is intended to ensure that high standards of environmental protection apply in relation to the operation of relevant waste facilities. The EPA may not grant a waste licence unless it is satisfied, among other things, that any emissions from the activity concerned will not contravene any relevant standard and that the activity concerned, carried on in accordance with licence conditions, will not cause environmental pollution. In the circumstances, I have no proposals at this time for amendment of regulations relating to the licensing of landfill facilities.