Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 March 2012
123 Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his proposals for the remediation of a dump (details supplied); the costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14447/12]
View answerThe site referred to in the question was cited in the European Court of Justice judgment in Case C 494/01 as an example of Ireland's failure to comply with the 1975 Waste Framework Directive. My Department, on behalf of the State, has been liaising with the European Commission to ensure that the requirements of the judgment are fully met. The Commission is concerned, as I am, to secure the urgent remediation of the site, a concern underlined by an additional letter of formal notice issued on 30 September 2010, which indicated that the Commission might refer the case back to the Court of Justice for financial penalties to be imposed against the Irish State for failure to comply with the judgment.
It is in these circumstances that my Department, in June 2011, requested Wicklow County Council to remediate the site, pursuant to its powers under section 56 of the Waste Management Act 1996. On foot of this, the Council, working with the EPA, has established a technical working group to oversee a programme of detailed investigation of the areas of illegal waste at the site. The purpose of this programme, which I understand is now complete, is to gain a greater understanding of the nature, character and distribution of the waste, and to assist in determining the requirements for the site's remediation. I understand that a procurement process for the remediation will be initiated by the Council later this year, with a view to work commencing in the Autumn.
The cost of remediation will be dependent on the technical approach taken to remediation and on the outcome of the tendering process. The costs involved will be funded by the State, with Wicklow County Council seeking cost recovery through the Courts. As the matter is the subject of ongoing legal proceedings, I do not propose to comment further.
124 Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for restructuring of the waste market and restrictions to side-by-side competition; if the regulatory impact assessment has been concluded; the outcome of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14448/12]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce competitive tendering for household waste collection, under which service providers would bid to provide waste collection services in a given area, for a given period of time and to a guaranteed level of service.
A public consultation designed to inform the policy development process concluded in September 2011. A large number of responses were received from a broad spectrum of interests. A consensus is not apparent and, on almost all of the relevant issues, a considerable breadth of opinion was expressed. All of the responses received, in addition to a summary document, are available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie.
I expect to be in a position to submit final proposals in relation to household waste collection to Government by Easter this year. All policy proposals will be carefully considered by Government and will take account of the full range of issues and perspectives. My policy objective is to put in place a system of regulation of household waste collection that provides the optimal mix of economic, environmental and social outcomes.
