Vol. 551 No. 3
194 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he agrees that, unless immediate steps are taken, there will be no ASR produced here; whether any ASR that may be produced can be disposed of to landfill; if so, whether the landfill charges here are making it more profitable to export ELVs rather than shred them so that the exemption of ASR from the landfill levy is completely irrelevant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10605/02]
195 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if the ELV management scheme will not be ready for more than 18 months, and if Ireland will be in breach of the ELV Directive as and from 21 April 2002; if, as a direct result, it is now more profitable to export ELVs to the UK, meaning that shredders will be put out of business in the interim, and the timescale for implementation of the directive has been and will be seriously damaged and dismantled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10606/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together.
I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 503 and 504 of 20 March 2002 in relation to the difficulties being faced by the vehicle shredding industry and the implementation of the EU Directive on End-of-Life Vehicles.
The acceptance of auto shredder residue (ASR) at landfill facilities is a matter for the relevant landfill operators having regard to the current terms of their respective waste licences granted by the EPA. I have no function in this matter or to the gate fees charged by landfill operators.
The question of the export of end-of-life vehicles and ASR is a matter for the economic sectors concerned, provided any such export complies with the relevant legislation in relation to the export of waste.
However, my Department will continue its discussions with the EPA, local authorities and the relevant sectors involved with a view to developing long-term solutions to the difficulties currently being experienced by the sector. Such solutions will include timely implementation of the ELV Directive.
