Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 December 2004
235 Ms Burton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is considerable public concern over allegedly high concentrations of bio-hazardous material, especially the class 2 pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus, in St. Anne’s Park, Raheny, Dublin 5, and the neighbouring residential area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31592/04]
View answer236 Ms Burton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a scientific report with the EPA which states that there are up to 300 times the background concentrations of the class 2 pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus, in a residential community adjacent to St. Anne’s Park, Raheny; if he is satisfied that the air that all the residents of a location (details supplied) in Dublin 5 are forced to breathe is safe; his advice to immune compromised persons and others with respiratory ill health who live in the area and who wish to visit this area of a public park; and if he will make a statement on this as a matter of urgency. [31593/04]
View answer237 Ms Burton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will make a statement regarding the progress which has been made with regard to a request by a local community for an epidemiological investigation to be carried out by the public health specialist as a result of the extremely serious public health issues arising from a report (details supplied). [31594/04]
View answer242 Ms Burton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that all forms of bulk handling of green waste can produce above background concentrations of bio-hazardous material, especially the class 2 pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this bio-hazardous material from green waste storage and handling facilities can result in the same health implications for workers and neighbouring populations as industrial composting facilities; and the steps he has taken or intends to take to ensure that workers and members of the general public are protected from these types of hazards. [31825/04]
View answer243 Ms Burton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the minimum 250 metre setback distance (details supplied) applied to all forms of green waste handling that produce above background concentrations of potentially harmful bioaerosols; and the steps he has taken or intends to take to ensure that this 250 metre set back distance is enforced. [31826/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 235 to 237, inclusive, 242 and 243 together.
Air quality assessment is primarily a matter for the EPA and air quality management is primarily the responsibility of local authorities informed by air quality measurement data. My Department is not appropriately placed to intervene on local air quality issues and it would not be appropriate to do this regarding the matter referred to in the questions. It is also the case that a decision is pending from An Bord Pleanála on a planning appeal regarding the composting facility at St. Anne's Park and that the EPA is considering an application for a waste licence for the same proposed activity.
With regard to waste composting more generally, the EPA has, under the environmental research, technological development and innovation, ERTDI, programme, commissioned Cré, the Composting Association of Ireland, to carry out a study entitled "Bioaerosols and Composting — A Literature Evaluation". A principal aim of the study is to provide a reference document for the guidance of both regulatory authorities and the composting industry in Ireland regarding bioaerosol emission management in significant composting facilities.
Bioaerosols — airborne micro-organisms, including pathogenic bacteria and fungal spores — arise in many natural environments, including lawns, farms and wooded areas. It is recognised that the operation of large-scale composting facilities may, in the absence of adequate precautions, give rise to the production of odours, volatile organic compounds and the release of bioaerosols in the immediate vicinity of such facilities. The main source for the bacteria and fungal spores at these installations may occur during mechanical agitation of the compost windrows, in activities such as screening, shredding and turning.
Composting is widely acknowledged as a natural process which allows organic waste to be decomposed by the action of micro and macro-organisms in the presence of oxygen to produce a humus like material. Under appropriately prescribed conditions, including suitable site selection criteria, the controlled composting of organic and green waste is internationally accepted and established as a well proven and acceptable method for the treatment and recovery of biodegradable waste, resulting ultimately in a beneficial and useful end product, that is, compost.
