Waste Management

Wednesday, 10 December 2014

Questions (162)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

162. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the details of regulation and disposal of clinical nuclear waste in private hospitals here; the protocols surrounding disposal of radioactive waste after operations in private hospitals; the persons who monitor the disposal of such waste and the following of radioactive protocols; if these procedures are being followed for disposal of radioactive waste in all private hospitals here; the way this is monitored by his Department; if there have been failures to follow such procedures in private hospitals and if he will provide details of these; the level of radioactive procedures that are allowed for; the type of procedures that are included; if his attention has been drawn to private hospitals that have not registered certain operations; if hospitals have concealed that operations had taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47484/14]

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Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for licensing all radioactive material used in public and private hospitals throughout Ireland. Radioactive material is used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes to provide clinical information on both the function and structure of tissues and organs in the body and in the treatment of cancer. Waste may be produced during these procedures where minute traces of radioactive material contaminates gloves, tissue paper, syringes, glass vials or tissue samples removed from patients. This material is then managed in accordance with procedures adopted by the hospital in line with the conditions of the hospital’s licence.

Such procedures for waste management are routinely inspected by the EPA. Where issues arise in relation to waste management, these are fully investigated. I understand that there are currently no outstanding investigations in relation to radioactive waste management.