Vol. 441 No. 8
136 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health in view of comments made in Dáil Éireann by his predecessor to the effect that the incinerator at Cork Regional Hospital was a health hazard the steps, if any, he intends to take in relation to this matter.
The matter of disposal of health care waste at hospitals, including Cork Regional Hospital, is being examined by a group in my Department. A draft health services waste policy has been circulated to the health agencies and a process of consultation and feedback to the Department has been concluded. An amended waste policy, taking account of the views of the agencies, will be issued shortly.
When the policy is in place, the agencies will be required to prepare waste management plans which comply with the principles set out in the policy document. I understand that the Southern Health Board is already considering the incineration arrangements at Cork Regional Hospital in the context of the formulation of the board's proposed waste management plans.
