AQW 52099/11-16

Mr Steven Agnew
Green Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 08/12/2015
Answered On Date: 06/01/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of the Environment, given confirmation by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency that the volume of illegal waste at Mobuoy Road, Derry is now estimated to be 1.5 million tonnes and expected to rise further, to explain the delay in initiating a public inquiry enquiry into illegal waste disposal and other irregularities, as called for in a motion passed by the Assembly on 11 March 2014.

Answer:

A public enquiry of this nature, because it is cross cutting, requires executive approval.

In April 2014 I issued a draft Executive paper asking the Executive to agree to the establishment of a public inquiry into waste management and disposal arrangements for Northern Ireland, and to commit to the provision of funding to meet the associated costs. No decision has yet been taken on my recommendations.