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Waste Management Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

Questions (613)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

613. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total cost of remedial works in respect of illegal or unregulated landfill sites in each of the past five years to date; the likely cost in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5970/13]

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Written answers

The location of illegal waste activities comprehended by the European Court of Justice judgment in Case C 494/01 involve sites at Ardristan in County Carlow, Whitestown and Castleruddery in County Wicklow, and the illegal infill of wetlands in County Waterford. 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 these sites.

Ministerial policy directions which issued in May 2005 and July 2008 provide guidance on the appropriate course of action to be followed where illegal deposition of waste is discovered. The policy direction issued in 2005 sets the standard in terms of the expected response from the regulatory authorities, who are obliged to ensure that the necessary remedial measures are taken to ensure that sites are restored and that waste illegally deposited is appropriately disposed of or recovered. The 2008 direction deals with the use of sanctions to ensure effective actions against those involved in unauthorised waste activities.

In practice, the bulk of the projects aiming to remediate the sites in question did not get underway until 2010. Consequently, most of the claims to my Department for reimbursement of the costs to the relevant local authority were made from 2011 onwards. The following table shows costs of remediation works totalling some €5,556,322, as of the end of 2012.

Costs of Remediation Work

2008-2011

2012

TOTAL

€2,983,000

€2,573,322

€5,556,322

Remedial works at these illegal and unregulated sites are continuing as part of a process that will take a number of years to complete. The ultimate final cost will be dependent on a range of factors, such as the actual quantities of waste involved, the technical approach taken to remediation and the outcome of tendering processes. The vast majority of the costs involved are ultimately borne by the State, although the local authorities, where possible, seek cost recovery through the Courts. The following table shows the future estimated costs arising in relation to the sites in question, on the basis of the best information to hand.

Future Estimated Costs

2013

2014

2015

TOTAL

€5,000,000

€3,500,000

€3,000,000

€11,500,000

Question No. 614 answered with Question No. 592.
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