The taxpayer will have to pay 20% of the costs (an estimated £600,000) involved in cleaning up thousands of tonnes of Ireland waste illegally dumped in the North.
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) believes that up to a quarter of a million tons of trash was brought across the border from 2002 to 2004. Investigators have detected 22 sites of illegal dumping and they believe others may be undiscovered.
An agreement has been reached between the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland (DoE NI) and the Irish Government that has earmarked the clearing of the sites in the North. The authorities in the Republic will pay 80% of the costs.
DUP MLA Sammy Wilson said the North was accepting 20% of the cost because there was evidence that some landowners had accepted illegal tipping onto their land. He said, "This represents a good deal for Northern Ireland, and I look forward to seeing work beginning soon to remove the waste, and the elimination of any potential environmental issues associated with the illegally dumped material.” Mr Wilson added, “Enforcement staff from NIEA and the Republic of Ireland are continuing to work together to ensure that illegal dumping of Republic of Ireland waste in Northern Ireland does not happen in the future.”
Irish Government Environment Minister John Gormley said the Republic was prepared to face up to its responsibilities under the "polluter pays" principle. It is believed a portion of the dumped material may be capable of being traced to its point of origin and the State hopes it can reclaim some of the bill through prosecuting some sources of the garbage.
However, SDLP Fermanagh Assembly member Tommy Gallagher said, “The problem of illegal waste is absolutely enormous and the department will have to run very hard to catch up.”
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