Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
823 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position in relation to an application by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11831/04]
View answerA general review of waste policy has recently been completed and details are set out in the recently launched policy statement taking stock and moving forward, together with the associated national overview of waste management plans publication. Copies of both documents are available in the Oireachtas library.
As part of this review, the priorities for use of the moneys available in the environment fund were re-examined and, in that context, the proposed scheme of grants under the waste management infrastructural grants scheme in relation to private sector applicants was re-considered. Having regard to the significant levels of investment and growth in scale of the private waste industry in recent times, the process of waste industry consolidation which is in evidence and which is likely to continue and, the competing priorities for the resources available in the environment fund, I have decided not to proceed with the scheme of grants mentioned above. Instead I intend to divert the funding to a number of other areas including increased waste enforcement activities, which are crucial to providing the confidence that current and future investment in the legitimate waste sector will not be undermined by illegal activities competing against fully compliant operators. Letters have issued to all private sector applicants on 7 April last informing them of my decision.
