asked the Minister for the Environment if the plan for the provision of a toxic dump at Baldonnel, County Dublin, will now be discontinued, having regard to the widespread opposition in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - County Dublin Toxic Waste Dump.
210.
There is no proposal to provide a toxic dump at Baldonnel. However, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 342 to 346 of 14 December last in which I dealt with aspects of the proposal to locate a central waste facility at Baldonnel, including the reasons for the selection of the Baldonnel site and the fact that any development would be subject to planning permission. I also indicated that the arrangements generally, including the possible cost, were under review and that I was not in a position to say when detailed proposals for the development and operation of the facility would be available. There is no change in that position.
The development envisaged is a depot at which limited quantities of waste would be bulked up and stored under stringent conditions, pending export to approved disposal facilities abroad. It is possible that some treatment of waste may be undertaken at the centre in the future if the quantities of waste being received and economic considerations justify such a course.