Vol. 515 No. 3
251 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the obligations, if any, on the motor industry to safely and fully dispose of cars which are no longer roadworthy; the facilities available for this disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6229/00]
252 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the responsibilities, if any, of car owners to ensure the safe and full disposal of a car which is no longer roadworthy; the proper means of this disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6230/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 252 together.
Section 32 (1) of the Waste Management Act, 1996, provides that a person shall not hold, transport, recover or dispose of waste in a manner that causes or is likely to cause environmental pollution. This general duty of care applies, inter alia, to the owner of an end-of-life vehicle, ELV.
Section 71 of the 1996 Act specifically prohibits the abandonment of vehicles on any land, and empowers local authorities to deal appropriately with abandoned vehicles. ELVs may be transferred to one of a number of facilities that have been permitted under the Waste Management (Permit) Regulations, 1998, to undertake the dismantling and recovery of ELVs.
Local authorities are required under the 1996 Act to provide or arrange for the provision of such facilities as appear to be necessary and reasonable, at which vehicles may be discarded.
I refer to the reply to Question No. 33 on today's Order Paper, regarding the involvement of the Irish motor industry in the recovery and disposal of ELVs.
