Written Answers. - Local Emergency Plans.
Paul McGrath
Ceist:
340
Mr. McGrath
asked the
Minister for the Environment
whether in the preparation of emergency plans for each area he has instructed county managers and fire officers to identify areas which could be used as emergency dumps in the event of any emergency; and if planning permission is needed for such areas.
Paul McGrath
Ceist:
341
Mr. McGrath
asked the
Minister for the Environment
if, in granting planning permission to a large factory or plant, a county manager is required to have a plan prepared to deal with any emergency which may arise at this plant; and if he will outline the steps he has taken to ensure that such plans are in place.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 and 341 together.
A local authority, in granting planning permission for a factory or other industrial plant, would be expected to have regard to the need for adequate disposal facilities for waste arising in the normal operation of the factory or plant. It would be unrealistic and unnecessary, however, to require that emergency plans covering water disposal as well as other matters should be required in all cases of industrial activity and there is no such provision in planning law. In the case, however, of certain industrial activities which are liable to pose a particular risk to public safety in the event of an emergency, the European Communities (Major Accident Hazards of Certain Industrial Activities) Regulations, 1986 (S.I. No. 292 of 1986), as amended, require the persons responsible for these activities to prepare a site emergency plan. In addition the regulations require the fire authorities and the other emergency services to have plans for dealing with the off site effects of any emergencies in the operation of such industrial activities.
On the question of planning for emergencies generally, it is a matter for the fire authorities concerned, acting on the guidelines issued by my Department, to make provision for responding to emergencies, including such matters as the removal and disposal of debris.
The development of waste disposal facilities by local authorities in their own functional areas is exempted development for the purposes of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, 1963 to 1990 and does not require planning permission. However, this development is, in the case of the larger waste disposal facilities, subject to the environmental impact assessment requirements of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1990 (S.I. No. 25 of 1990).
