Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 July 2013

Thursday, 4 July 2013

Questions (178)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

178. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will request the National Development Finance Agency to conduct a new value for money assessment of the proposed waste to energy incinerator project in Poolbeg, Dublin, in view of the fact that it is eight years since the original was conducted in 2005; if it is acceptable to use data that is eight years old when the economic circumstances of the country have changed considerably in the meantime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32781/13]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Poolbeg Project is a Public Private Partnership between Dublin City Council, acting on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities in the context of their statutory regional waste management plan, and its private partner, Dublin Waste to Energy Ltd. In accordance with the provisions of the Waste Management Act 1996 , the preparation and adoption of a waste management plan, including in respect of infrastructure provision, is the statutory responsibility of the local authority or authorities concerned, and under section 60(3) of the Act I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance by a local authority, in particular circumstances, of a statutory function vested in it.

The assessment of Public Private Partnership projects by the National Development Finance Agency, including the data used for such assessments, is a matter for that agency.