Written Answers. - Recycling Industry
Austin Deasy
Question:
16
Mr. Deasy
asked the
Minister for Enterprise and Employment
the amount of employment which is created in the recycling industry; if he will give details in this regard for each category; and his views on whether there is a need for State support to sustain such projects.
[6220/97]
The issues raised by the Deputy involve matters which are of relevance to the Department of the Environment as well as my Department.
As far as my Department is concerned, the Deputy will be aware that under the Industrial Development Act 1986, Forbairt assistance is restricted to manufacturing projects and to a list of service activities designated under section 21, which to date have been confined to certain internationally-traded activities — e.g. software development, data processing, technical and consulting services, commercial laboratory services, administrative headquarters services, research and development services, media recording services, training services, publishing services, international financial services, health-care services. Therefore, very basic processes such as collection, sorting, shredding and baling or incineration of waste materials are not supported by grants under Forbairt schemes.
Forbairt can provide financial assistance to developments which are based on the use of waste as a raw material, and which are used to produce products in a traded sector. Projects must satisfy normal commercial criteria and they are considered on their merit by Forbairt on a case by case basis. It also provides assistance under the feasibility study grants programme to assist companies to investigate market opportunities for recycled products.
Forbairt has therefore only limited information on employment in recycling activities and the number of employees in these Forbairt grant-aided activities would represent a very small percentage of those employed in recycling activities as the majority of such employment would be in the preparation of waste materials for further use — collection, sorting, baling etc.
Recycling industries are eligible for assistance from the county enterprise boards, provided that they satisfy the commercial, investment and employment criteria applied by them. During 1995 and 1996, grant aid of £365,065 was approved by the county enterprise boards for 43 recycling projects. These projects are expected to generate 94 full-time and seven part-time jobs.
The Deputy will be aware of the initiatives in operation to support recycling activities in the Department of the Environment. Financial assistance to support waste recycling or provision of waste infrastructure is available through the Department of the Environment under the waste management sub-programme of the Operational Programme for Environmental Services 1994-99. I understand that the Department of the Environment has recently approved grants for 11 private sector waste recycling projects under this scheme and it is estimated that, when fully operational, these projects will provide approximately 53 additional jobs.
REPAK is a voluntary industry initiative which was launched in February 1996 to co-ordinate and finance the collection and recycling of packaging waste. I understand that interested businesses are currently being invited to participate in the scheme.
