Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2008
476 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the policy position on the allocation of payments from the environment fund; the groups and agencies that are eligible for moneys from the fund; the groups or agencies that may not be eligible under the fund, under section 12 of the Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35418/08]
View answerPayments from the Environment Fund are allocated on the basis of their ability to best contribute to those purposes as set out in Section 12 of the Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001. These purposes are:
(a) to assist, support or promote any programmes or schemes established for the prevention or reduction of waste in the State or the establishment of such programmes or schemes,
(b) to assist the establishment, equipping and, where appropriate, the operation of waste re-use and recycling activities generally, or recovery activities in respect of any specified class of waste,
(c) to assist, support or promote research and development with respect to any aspect of waste management,
(d) to assist, support or promote the production, distribution or sale of products of a particular class, being products which possess characteristics (whether characteristics of an inherent nature or related to the process by which they are manufactured) likely to render them less harmful to the environment than other products falling within the same class,
(e) to assist, support or promote the development of initiatives by producers to prevent or reduce waste arising from activities carried on by them,
(f) to assist generally the implementation of waste management plans (within the meaning of Part II) and the hazardous waste management plan,
(g) to facilitate or assist the enforcement of the provisions of any enactment (including this Act) relating to waste management or the prevention of litter or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment,
(h) to facilitate or assist projects, commonly known as partnership projects, that involve local authorities and the purpose of which is to improve the quality of the environment in so far as it affects a particular local community or communities,
(i) to promote awareness of the need generally to protect the environment and, in particular, to assist, support or promote national and regional campaigns the objectives of which are to foster such awareness,
(j) to promote or support education and training that would facilitate the achievement of the objectives of campaigns as aforesaid,
(k) to assist the provision of the necessary resources (whether human or material) to enable such education and training to be carried out or facilitate the improvement of any such resources that exist for the time being,
(l) to assist, support or promote initiatives undertaken by community groups, environmental groups or other like persons with respect to the protection of any aspect of the environment, and
(m) such other purposes with respect to the protection of the environment as may be prescribed.
No particular group or agency is precluded from applying for funding.
