Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 March 2005
78 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to proposals to burn meat and bonemeal from a rendering plant on the Kildare-Offaly border; if her approval has been sought for this proposal; her views on whether this is a safe and environmentally satisfactory procedure for disposing of such material; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6963/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no regulatory function in regard to the approval of any plant to incinerate or co-incinerate meat and bonemeal. The responsible regulatory authorities are the local authority and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA.
As regards the case mentioned by the Deputy, I am aware of a proposal to co-incinerate MBM as a fuel at a plant in Offaly. I understand that Offaly County Council has given a positive response to a proposal to a change in the use of fuel at the plant to include MBM. I also understand that an application has been lodged with the EPA for a licence review.
