Probe after Dúchas dumped waste illegally

Investigations are underway today after it emerged Dúchas, the national heritage service, dumped waste at an illegal landfill site.

Investigations are underway today after it emerged Dúuchas, the national heritage service, dumped waste at an illegal landfill site.

Junior Environment Minister Noel Ahern said he deeply regretted that Dúchas had disposed of materials at the site in south Tipperary.

He said: “There won’t be anything else dumped in that place. That will stop immediately.

“We will cooperate fully with the authorities to see how it has been happening and why it has been happening.”

State agency Dúchas ordered an internal investigation into how a truck from Kilkenny city deposited waste at a site outside the village of Killenaule.

Tipperary County Council also ordered an inquiry.

Mr Ahern said: “This is something that I and the Department are treating with the gravest seriousness. Illegal dumping in any form is wrong and unacceptable. It is deeply regrettable that this has occurred.

“We are determined that this matter will be put right.

“We have instructed an immediate investigation into this incident and the secretary general of the department is to report as a matter of urgency.”

Mr Ahern said it was hard to imagine why anybody would want to dump waste in such a way.

He said waste from Dúchas would consist mainly of construction materials and possibly literature.

“It is entirely unacceptable and you can take it that a very detailed examination will take place and we will get to the bottom of it very quickly.

“We are trying to change the habits of the nation and there is a gap between passing legislation and getting people to change their habits and change their culture.”

The matter was raised last night in the Dáil by Kilkenny TD John McGuinness.