Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 May 1995

Vol. 453 No. 7

Written Answers. - Oireachtas Paper Requirements.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

70 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Finance the annual amount of paper used in printing Oireachtas documents; the measures if any, that have been taken to recycle these documents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10045/95]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Coveney)

The estimated quantity of paper used on parliamentary printing contracts in 1994 for the Houses of the Oireachtas was 65 tonnes.

Since January 1990 responsibility for funding of stationery services, including waste paper disposal, has been transferred to each Department and Office. The question of recycling of documents is, therefore, a matter for individual Departments and Offices.

On a more general note, I should point out that my own Department, the Office of Public Works has, since 1992, operated an arrangement with a commercial company who regularly remove shredded waste paper from Office of Public Works HQ for recycling. This arrangement has recently been extended to include all suitable waste paper generated on a daily basis within the Office.