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Environmental Protection Agency Licences

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2018

Tuesday, 6 November 2018

Ceisteanna (808)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

808. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason there are no time limits for the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, to process environmental licence applications; and his plans to change this and introduce strict time limits. [45687/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The time taken by the EPA to process an application for a license varies depending on a range of circumstances and factors, including the nature and complexity of the activity/installation and the quality of the information submitted. In respect of Industrial Emissions (IE) and Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licence applications, which are issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1992 (as amended), once the Agency has received an application that fully complies with statutory requirements, it has a statutory period of 8 weeks to issue a Proposed Determination (PD). Following the publication of the PD, there is further period of 28 days within which objections may be made.  If there are no objections, the Agency can issue a Final Determination (FD).  If objections are received, or a request for an oral hearing is made, the Agency has a further maximum 4 months statutory deadline before a FD must be issued. 

In respect of waste licence applications, which are issued under the Waste Management Act 1996 (as amended), the licensing procedure is a necessarily detailed process. Once an application is made to the EPA, the Agency completes an assessment of the application and submissions on the application. Once the Agency has acknowledged the application as complete, the inspector assessing the application prepares a report detailing all relevant aspects of the application, and also prepares a proposed licence, taking into account any written submissions received. The Board of the Agency then makes a PD on the licence application. It is vital, to ensure statutory compliance, that  each application is subject to the appropriate analysis, scrutiny and appraisal. This is essential to maintain the appropriate levels of control to ensure that waste is disposed of without endangering human health and also without using environmentally harmful processes and methods.

Further information on the licensing processes can be found on the EPA website at:

http://www.epa.ie/licensing/ and https://www.epa.ie/radiation/lic/needtoknow/

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