Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 November 2025
214. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the volumes of domestic, commercial and medical waste contained in the illegal landfill in Whitestown, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63392/25]
View answer215. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the amount of material that has been removed from the illegal landfill at Whitestown, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63393/25]
View answer216. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide details of the location the waste from the illegal landfill at Whitestown, County Wicklow, has been removed to; the location the remainder is to be taken to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63394/25]
View answer217. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the details and timeframe of the remediation plan for the illegal landfill at Whitestown, County Wicklow; if he will make the plan public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63395/25]
View answer218. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide details on pollution or contamination to the environment or watercourses at the illegal landfill at Whitestown, County Wicklow, or adjoining lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63396/25]
View answer219. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total costs to date, including legal costs, incurred in addressing the illegal landfill at Whitestown, County Wicklow; to specify the parties that have borne these costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63397/25]
View answer220. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the details of funding provided to Wicklow County Council to help address the illegal landfill at Whitestown, County Wicklow, including the amounts and years in which such funding was allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63398/25]
View answer221. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the projected final costs to remediate the illegal landfill at Whitestown, County Wicklow; the party which will bear these costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63399/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 214 to 221, inclusive, together.
In accordance with the Waste Management Act, the management of waste including the remediation of legacy landfill sites, such as Whitestown, is the legal responsibility of the respective local authorities. In this context, site specific and operational questions are a matter for the local authority and should be addressed directly to Wicklow County Council in this instance. Local Authorities must comply with the remediation requirements in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency waste licence regime to ensure the necessary environmental safeguards are put in place.
The landfill remediation grant scheme was established with the express purposes of assisting local authorities in recognition of the significant financial burden placed on them to meet this obligation. The statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority in remediating these sites is reflected and reinforced in the first National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy.
I am advised that the remediation of the Whitestown site is subject to ongoing legal proceedings in the High Court and Wicklow County Council is acting in accordance with High Court judgements to remediate the site.
Wicklow County Council has availed of funding through the Landfill Remediation Grant Scheme in respect of Whitestown as set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Grant Amount (€) |
|
2013 |
€958,428.53 |
|
2014 |
€2,293,799.90 |
|
2016 |
€616,135.17 |
|
2021 |
€428,320.30 |
|
2022 |
€540,966.10 |
|
2023 |
€1,351,861.16 |
|
2024 |
€962,653.78 |
|
2025 (YTD) |
€59,985.27 |
Funding supports Wicklow County Council in assessing and managing the site in accordance with the High Court proceedings to ensure the optimal environmental outcome, as capital works only. No legal costs are funded by the Department.
I am advised that tendering processes for capital works and material outlets have been undertaken by the Council this year and a provision of €15 million has been made by the Department to support this work in 2026. It is expected that the remediation of Whitestown will cost in the region of €45M over a three year period with a further year of monitoring of the site required following the remediation.
