Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2005
48 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he is in receipt of correspondence asserting that a local authority (details supplied) in County Wicklow entered into a contractual obligation with an individual or private company to allow the dumping of waste arising from a roads contract of that authority at a site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36671/05]
View answerI have not received such correspondence, but I am relaying the Deputy's concern to the Office of Environmental Enforcement.
Enforcement of environmental legislation is a matter for local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement. Under section 59 of the Waste Management Act 1996, each local authority is responsible for the holding, recovery or disposal of waste within its functional area. The office, using its powers under section 63 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, supervises the environmental protection activities of local authorities through auditing their performance, providing advice and guidance and, in appropriate cases, giving binding directions. My Department has no function in these matters.
