Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
585. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how the human cremation process is regulated; the statutory reporting responsibilities of crematoria relating to air, water and soil quality in the areas adjacent to the crematorium; to whom crematoria report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36068/23]
View answerAs is the case for all forms of development, unless they are specifically exempted, crematoria for human remains are required to obtain planning permission in the normal manner. However their ongoing operations and control of the human cremation process, including any emissions therefrom, are regulated separately. In this connection, the monitoring of air, soil and water quality is carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is under the aegis of my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. I, in my role as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, have no function in this regard.
