Toxic waste at Dunsink tiphead
De Rossa sought renewal of a commitment that toxic or hazardous waste would not be dumped at Dunsink. Quinn said the council determines the tiphead’s use, that toxic waste had not been accepted there, and that he had no information suggesting it was currently being dumped.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will renew the commitment given by his predecessor that the Dunsink dump in Finglas, County Dublin, will not be used for the storage or disposal of toxic waste.
Comment on this
Any decision as to the future use of Dunsink tiphead, including the types of waste to be accommodated there, is a matter for Dublin County Council. The council are not, as far as I am aware, making the facility available for the disposal of industrial non-hazardous waste and I understand that toxic waste was never accepted at the tiphead.
In these circumstances, the question of a commitment on my part does not arise.
Comment on this
The Minister is probably aware — I am sure it is on file — that his predecessor did give a commitment to the people of Finglas west that toxic or hazardous wastes would not be dumped in Dunsink. The council — again the Minister may be aware — were reluctant to agree to that commitment for a long period. The people are now anxious that, given a new Administration in office, that commitment would be renewed. I am sure the Minister will accept the case that a domestic dump——
Comment on this
——is not the best place to get rid of industrial waste and I can see no great difficulty in the Minister giving the requested commitment.
Comment on this
The problem is one of definition. The information I have on file is to the effect that the predecessor to the Tánaiste, the Minister, Deputy Burke, gave an undertaking and requested the council to discontinue acceptance of industrial non-hazardous waste. Apparently such waste is different from toxic waste. Toxic waste, according to the information I have, as defined was never actually dumped in the tiphead in Dunsink. The Deputy can take it that the whole question of disposal of waste is being looked at in a comprehensive way and no change will occur in the current practice until such time as the overall policy has been completed.
Comment on this
Is the Minister satisfied that at the present time toxic waste is not dumped in Dunsink? Many of the local residents believe it is being dumped because it is an open tip.