Vol. 396 No. 4
107 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment if he has a record or register of the authorised waste and refuse dumps owned and/or operated by local authorities; if he will give full details of that register, including the inspections and standards, if any, which his Department make or require; if he is satisfied that all such dumps are properly managed and do not cause a threat to the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
While my Department have issued guidelines to local authorities on the factors to be taken into account in selecting, developing and operating waste disposal sites, they do not keep a register of such sites nor are they subject to formal inspection by officers of my Department. All aspects of waste management planning, including the provision and operation of disposal sites are a matter for the local authorities concerned.
Consideration is being given to the assignment to the Environmental Protection Agency of functions in relation to the monitoring of local authority operations in the waste disposal area.
