Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 5

Written Answers. - Waste Management.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

50 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of permits granted under the Waste Management (Permit) Regulations, 1998, for the recovery and dismantling of vehicles; the progress made in his discussions with the Society of the Irish Motor Industry regarding disposal of old cars in view of the serious environmental problems being created by the difficulty in disposing of old cars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10028/00]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

The granting of permits under the Waste Management (Permit) Regulations, 1998, is a matter for local authorities and one in which I have no function.

In 1998 my Department invited the Society of the Irish Motor Industry to develop a voluntary producer responsibility initiative in relation to end-of-life vehicles which would take account of a draft EU Parliament and council directive cur rently being developed. A SIMI proposal on an ELV management system for Ireland was submitted in December 1999. Having regard to the draft EU directive, this proposal includes measures aimed at: preventing waste from vehicles; increasing the recovery of ELVs and their components; ensuring that economic operators establish collection systems for all ELVs and ensuring that vehicles are dismantled and recovered in a manner which does not cause environmental pollution.

The proposal has been examined in my Department and will shortly be the subject of detailed discussions with SIMI. It is my objective to secure agreement on an acceptable vehicle recovery scheme not later than autumn 2000.