My Department has no role in determining the location of municipal waste incinerators. Such decisions are taken by local authorities, in the context of the regional waste management plans for which they have statutory responsibility, and by commercial enterprises in relation to private sector facilities, and are subject to the statutory planning and waste licence approval processes.
However, my Department is aware that a private company has secured planning and licensing approval for a municipal waste incinerator at Carronstown, Co. Meath and a hazardous waste incinerator at Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork. In relation to the latter the company has indicated that approval for the treatment of municipal waste at this facility may be sought in the future.
Applications by Dublin City Council, on behalf of the Dublin local authorities, for planning and licensing approval for a waste to energy facility at Poolbeg are, in the context of that region's statutory waste management plan, currently before An Bord Pleanala and the Environmental Protection Agency respectively. The other waste management regions in their respective waste management plans identify various approaches to the use of thermal treatment in waste management.