Written Answers Nos. 183-203
183. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he has continued to identify issues affecting the delivery of services throughout the public hospital sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48442/17]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare published its report earlier this year which outlines a vision and strategic direction for the health service over the next decade. The report makes a range of recommendations in relation to the hospital sector. I am committed to returning to Government by the end of the year with a detailed response to the report and a draft programme of reform.
Notwithstanding this, I am very aware of the interrelated nature of the challenges our health service faces. As a consequence, I have prioritised a range of policy and operational initiatives to address waiting lists, Emergency Department overcrowding, bed capacity and staff recruitment.
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018. Budget 2018 allocated additional funding in the region of €10m for the remainder of 2017 to fund patient treatment across a range of key specialties and procedures. In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, the HSE has been implementing Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services.
Tackling overcrowding in Emergency Departments is a key commitment of this Government and I am happy to confirm that €40 million in additional funding in 2017 has been made available as part of the 2018 Budget to address winter pressures and waiting lists over the rest of this year. A further €45 million has been allocated for measures to improve access to unscheduled care and other acute hospital priorities in 2018.
Some of this funding is already being utilised within the system, with an additional 45 homecare packages and 20 transitional care beds per week being provided for the duration of the winter period. This funding will allow for patients to return home, or an appropriate community setting, when clinically appropriate, thus helping to alleviate some of the pressures our hospitals are currently experiencing.
Funding will also be provided to increase bed capacity this winter and moving forward, as part of service planning for 2018. My Department is undertaking a Health Service Capacity review in line with the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment, the findings of which are due to be published before the end of the year, and which will provide an evidence base for future capacity decisions.
Further, my Department and the HSE are implementing a range of initiatives to increase the medical and nursing workforce.
In addition, I can confirm to the Deputy that all Hospital Groups and Community Health Organisations have developed and put in place integrated winter preparedness plans for their locality focussed on planning and escalation preparedness, maintaining patient flow processes and ensuring public health preparedness.
184. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the success to date in the reduction of hospital waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48443/17]
View answer185. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself that he can reduce the waiting times for various hospital treatments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48444/17]
View answer187. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the National Treatment Purchase Fund is expected to deal with waiting lists for specific procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48446/17]
View answer188. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which specific issues or deficiencies in the system which have resulted in backlogs and waiting lists in the public hospital system have been identified; his plans to resolve these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48447/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 184, 185, 187 and 188 together.
I acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018. Budget 2018 allocated additional funding in the region of €10m for the remainder of 2017 to fund patient treatment across a range of key specialties and procedures.
In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, the HSE has been implementing Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. The Inpatient/Daycase Action Plan is being delivered through a combination of normal hospital activity, as well as insourcing and outsourcing initiatives utilising NTPF funding. Under the Inpatient/Daycase Plan, since early February, over 29,000 patients have come off the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List.
The NTPF has advised that to date 14,551 patients have been authorised for treatment in private hospitals under its Initiatives, 4,574 patients have accepted an offer of treatment in a private hospital and that 1,822 patients have received their procedure. The NTPF has also indicated that 3,716 patients have been authorised for treatment in public hospitals under the Plan’s insourcing initiatives, 1,415 offers of treatment have been accepted and 776 patients have been treated.
Under the Oupatient Plan, since early February, almost 100,000 patients have come off the Outpatient Waiting List.
With regard to 2018, €50m in funding will be allocated to the NTPF for patient treatment and a further €10m to HSE to address waiting lists, including in the area of paediatric orthopaedics and scoliosis. The HSE and NTPF are working together to develop coherent and synergistic Waiting List Action Plans in 2018 for inpatient/daycase, outpatient and scoliosis, in order to continue the focus on long-waiting patients and overall waiting list numbers.
186. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health his plans to make available at reasonable cost various drugs now available on the market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48445/17]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The 2013 Act specifies the criteria to be applied in making decisions on the reimbursement of medicines.
The HSE seeks, where possible, to give patients early access to new treatments. However, it must work within the budget provided by the Oireachtas. In the statutory reimbursement process, supported by the 2016 Framework Agreement with industry, the HSE makes decisions on objective scientific and economic grounds. Criteria which must be considered include the population’s health needs, the product’s cost and clinical effectiveness, opportunity costs, the budget impact and available resources.
HSE decisions are supported by health technology assessments (HTAs), which systematically assess whether a drug is a cost-effective health intervention. Currently, most new medicines, including orphan products, undergo HTAs. However, not all applications have sufficient information for assessment and in such cases this must be sought. Also, as HTAs frequently cannot demonstrate value for money for items at the price sought by the company, lengthy price negotiations between the HSE and the manufacturer may be needed. These factors contribute significantly to the length of the reimbursement decision making process.
With the potential costs involved and the competing demands across the health service, every effort must be made to secure the best outcome for the health service and the taxpayer. This includes seeking realistic and sustainable pricing and supply models for new treatments.
Question No. 189 answered with Question No. 92.
190. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the announcement for funding to support capital investment in the horticulture sector can include investments made to repair damage following Storm Ophelia; the start and finish date for works commenced and completed to be included in this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48291/17]
View answerThe Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector provides grant aid at a rate of 40% of the approved cost of capital investments in specialised horticultural buildings, structures or equipment. The rate of aid is increased in the case of growers who are under 35 years of age at the time of application. To qualify for consideration under the Scheme a proposed investment must meet at least one of the following objectives:
- Promote diversification of on-farm activity
- Improve the quality of output
- Facilitate environmentally friendly practices
- Improve working conditions.
While the Scheme cannot fund repairs, some growers may wish to seek approval under the Scheme to facilitate capital investments in response to Storm Ophelia. For example, eligible investments could include erection of windbreaks or the up-grading of polytunnels using new high specification plastic.
Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The closing date for receipt of applications is 19th December 2017. To qualify for grant aid the approved investment must not commence before the respective letter of approval issues from my Department.
The deadline for completion of approved investments is 28th September 2018. However, in duly justified limited cases, funding may be approved for investments that will be completed and claimed prior to 27th September 2019. Payment claims will be accepted prior to the closing date for receipt of claims.
191. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if specific programmes introduced for small and medium enterprises due to difficulties arising from Brexit will include the farming agri sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48298/17]
View answerI and my Department, in cooperation with Government and other Departments and Agencies, are attempting to mitigate the more immediate impacts of the Brexit vote on the agri-food sector through a range of budgetary measures.
In Budget 2017 I introduced a number of measures to help minimise farm business costs, including a €150 million “Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme. Under Budget 2018, I announced, in partnership with my colleague, An Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Frances Fitzgerald TD, a new “Brexit Loan Scheme”, which will provide affordable, flexible financing to Irish businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit or who will be in the future. This finance will be easier to access, more competitively priced, and at more favourable terms than current offerings.
The new Brexit Loan Scheme aims to make up to €300 million of working capital finance available to SMEs and mid-cap businesses (up to 499 employees). Given their unique exposure to the UK market, my Department’s funding (€9 million out of total public funding of €23 million) ensures that at least 40% of the fund will be available to food businesses.
Due to State aid rules, the Scheme will not be available to farmers and fishermen. However, I have secured further Budget 2018 funding of €25 million to allow my Department to facilitate the development of further Brexit response loan scheme for farmers, fishermen and food businesses in 2018. I will be announcing details of these schemes in due course
192. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the provision that was agreed in relation to the pending trade deal that would allow Mercosur to export 70,000 tonnes of beef annually to the EU. [48299/17]
View answerThere has been no agreement on a Mercosur deal at this point. However, the commission has made an offer to Mercosur which includes a Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) for beef. The TRQ offer is split evenly between fresh and frozen beef. A proportion of the fresh beef would be required to meet the definition of "High Quality Beef", and would therefore have to come from grass fed animals, and a proportion of the frozen beef would be for manufacturing only.
I was deeply disappointed that the Commission decided to include beef in its offer during the last round of negotiations. I believe that this could not be coming at a worse time for the EU beef sector.
I and my officials have been very active in highlighting the potentially very damaging impact of a Mercosur deal on the European agriculture sector, and on the beef sector in particular. We continue to monitor the situation closely and respond as appropriate to developments in order to defend the interests of Irish farmers, working in close co-operation with my Government colleagues, particularly the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, and the Taoiseach.
At political level, I have continuously raised the issue with my Member State colleagues and with Commissioners Hogan and Malmström, both within the Council of Agriculture Ministers and in written form. These efforts have been reinforced at official level through similar contacts with Member States and the Commission, particularly through the Special Committee on Agriculture and the Trade Policy Committee. The Taoiseach has also raised the matter with Presidents Juncker and Macron.
Most recently, Ireland made the latest in a series of very strong interventions on this matter at the Trade Policy Committee in Brussels on 27 October, and I raised the matter at the Council of Agriculture Ministers in Luxembourg in October and again in Brussels on 6 November. I have also worked very closely with a number of other Member States, most notably France, including in the production of a joint paper that was submitted to the European Commission on 26 September outlining our shared concerns. And I wrote to Commissioner Malmstroem in early October reiterating my concerns in relation to the tabling of a beef TRQ offer.
I believe there is a need for continued vigilance in relation to the conduct of these trade negotiations, and I will continue to insist that they are handled appropriately, and in a manner that safeguards the interests of the Irish and European beef sector. In this regard I believe full account must be taken of the findings of the Commission’s own assessment of the cumulative impact of trade deals on the agri food sector, and the potentially very damaging impact of Brexit on an already delicately balanced EU beef market.
193. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the minimum amount of land required to be classed as a farm in order to claim on it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48300/17]
View answerUnder EU regulations, Ireland has taken up the option to implement a minimum payment threshold of €100 under which payment via a direct payment scheme will not issue.
However, notwithstanding the above, certain schemes may also include an area threshold, depending on the objectives of various schemes and the terms and conditions of those schemes.
For example, under the terms and conditions of the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme, applicants must occupy and farm in their own right and at their own risk a minimum of 3 hectares of ANC forage land in an eligible area.
194. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to bring all animal related legislation under the responsibility of one Department rather than three separate Departments as is currently the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48302/17]
View answerThe key change introduced into the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 was to bring all aspects of animal welfare under the policy remit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This has led to improved enforcement of the law in the area of animal welfare. My officials have been assisted in this work by authorised officers of other State bodies and from a number of animal welfare charities. There are no plans to go beyond this change at the present time.
195. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce CCTV and security grants for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48303/17]
View answerThe TAMS II Scheme already provides attractive grant rates for a comprehensive range of items. There are no plans to grant aid CCTV under the TAMS II measures.
Overall I am delighted that the scheme has proved to be so popular with Irish farmers with over 15,000 applications submitted to date. Of these over 11,500 or over 75% have been approved to commence work. Approvals issue on an ongoing basis with approvals under the most recent tranche due to commence shortly.
The figures are much lower when it comes to payment claims. To date, only 2,670 payment claims have been submitted. The Department has actively encouraged all approved applicants to submit payment claims including by contacting approved applicants individually by text message. All 11,500 approvals issued represent potential outstanding liabilities for the Department. Until these approvals mature to payment stage or the timeframe of the approval expires a budgetary provision must be available to make payments.
For this reason I am not proposing to open the scheme to new investments.
196. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to extend the TAMS scheme to include the funding of underpasses in cases in which persons have land banks on both sides of local, national and regional roads in view of the excessive costs of same, the safety of both motorists and farmers and the return of finances under the TAMS scheme to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48304/17]
View answer197. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funding for underpasses will be allowed under TAMS or other agricultural support schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48364/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together.
The TAMS II Scheme provides attractive grant rates for a wide range of investment items. Overall I am delighted that the scheme has proved to be so popular with Irish farmers with over 15,000 applications submitted to date. Of these over 11,500 or over 75% have been approved to commence work. Approvals issue on an ongoing basis with approvals under the most recent tranche due to commence shortly.
The figures are much lower when it comes to payment claims. To date, only 2,670 payment claims have been submitted. The Department has actively encouraged all approved applicants to submit payment claims including by contacting approved applicants individually by text message. All 11,500 approvals issued represent potential outstanding liabilities for the Department. Until these approvals mature to payment stage or the timeframe of the approval expires a budgetary provision must be available to make payments.
For this reason I am not proposing to open the scheme to new investments.
198. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated funding to be spent on the GLAS scheme in the rural development plan when published; the estimated spend that will now occur based on the current numbers in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48387/17]
View answerThe total expenditure envisaged for the Agri-environment Climate Measure over the lifetime of the Rural Development Programme when published was €1.4bn. This figure includes transitional funding for remaining commitments arising from the Agri-Environment Measures in the 2007-2013 RDP, GLAS, GLAS Training and Locally Led Agri-Environment Schemes.
There are now over 50,000 participants in the GLAS scheme which is above the original target set. For this reason, the allocated budget is fully committed and it is expected that it will be fully utilised.
199. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the redemption price for a person (details supplied) under the land annuity scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48391/17]
View answerThe person named redeemed their Land Purchase annuity account in September 2017 and there is no outstanding amount to be paid.
200. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the number of post offices that might close or are in danger of closing; if a list of such post offices has been complied by his Department or furnished to him; if so, if the list will be provided to this Deputy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48289/17]
View answerAs Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I am responsible for the postal sector including the governance of An Post. Operational matters relating to the company’s retail business, including the post office network, are matters for the Board and management of An Post. I appreciate that there is concern regarding the potential closure of post offices and the potential number involved. However, I am advised that no definitive decision has been made by An Post regarding post office closures. I have not received a list of potential post office closures. An Post has carried out a fundamental review of the company to identify the strategic changes and restructuring necessary to put the company on a sound financial footing. In this context, An Post has looked at the future of the post office network with a view to ensuring a sustainable, modern and vibrant network for the future, capable of adapting to the changing environment in which it operates. Any changes in this area will have to be the subject of negotiation between An Post and the Postmasters. I continue to encourage An Post to work closely with all parties to find an agreed solution to the renewal of the network. It is expected that Government will be briefed shortly on the strategic review. Until such time it would not be appropriate to comment further.
201. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the planned roll-out of fibre optic broadband will commence in areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48331/17]
View answerIn April I published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan (NBP). The Map is searchable by eircode.
The map shows Ireland with three colours:
- The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.
- The BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The Light BLUE areas represent eir's commercial rural deployment plans to rollout high speed broadband to 300,000 premises by the end of 2018 as part of an Agreement signed with me in April.
The table below details percentage of premises, with the approximate number of premises in brackets, to be covered by the State led Intervention and through commercial investment in the areas identified by the Deputy. Individuals can access the High Speed Broadband Map www.broadband.gov.ie using their eircode to ascertain the colour code (BLUE/Light BLUE or AMBER) status for their specific home or business.
|
County |
Location |
Townland |
% Premises within the NBP Intervention Area |
% Premises within Commercial Operator’s Area |
% of premises of eir planned rural deployment |
|
Townpark (Longford By) |
|
|
100%(113) |
||
|
Eyrecourt |
Eyrecourt Demesne |
85% (22) |
|
15% (4) |
|
|
Garrynashillagh |
|
|
100% (35) |
||
|
Killimore |
Killymore and Boleybeg |
6% (2) |
|
94% (31) |
|
|
Woodford |
Woodford |
3%(5) |
|
97% (178) |
|
|
Tynagh |
Tynagh |
6% (3) |
|
94% (46) |
|
|
Peterswell |
Cappard Demesne |
41% (11) |
|
59%(16) |
|
|
Glennagloghaun North |
2%(2) |
82%(97) |
16%(19) |
||
|
Monivea |
Glennagloghaun South |
3%(1) |
74%(28) |
24%(9) |
|
|
Killeenadeema West |
50%(13) |
|
50%(13) |
||
|
Killeenadeema |
Killeenadeema East |
38%(12) |
|
63%(20) |
|
|
Ballaun |
Ballaun (Loughra By) |
20%(4) |
|
80%(16) |
|
|
Kiltullagh |
Kiltullagh (Dunkellin By) |
56%(68) |
43%(52) |
1%(1) |
|
|
Kilreekill |
Lecarrownagappoge Meanus |
27%(4) |
|
73%(11) 100%(12) |
|
|
Alloonbaun |
45%(13) |
|
55%(16) |
||
|
Ballymacward |
Alloon Upr |
64%(16) |
|
36%(9) |
|
|
Attimonbeg |
30%(3) |
|
70%(7) |
||
|
Attymon |
Attimonmore Sth |
7%(3) |
|
93%(40) |
|
|
Menlough Eighter |
47%(18) |
|
53% (2) |
||
|
Menlough Oughter |
|
|
100%(63) |
||
|
Menlough |
Menlough Commons |
|
|
100%(37) |
|
|
Woodlawn |
80%(16) |
|
20%(4) |
||
|
Woodlawn |
Carrowmore (ED Killaan) |
5%(1) |
|
95%(21) |
|
|
Knockrack (Kilconnell By) |
|
100%(5) |
|||
|
GALWAY |
New Inn |
Castlebin South |
3%(1) |
|
97%(29) |
Information on eir's planned rural deployment is available from eir at http://fibrerollout.ie/eircode-lookup/. Citizens can access this website to determine the connectivity availability status for their premises using their eircode. The website also provides a list of retail service providers who offer services using high speed fibre network in the area.
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. That procurement process is now at an advanced stage. “Detailed Solutions” submitted by two bidders on 26th September are being evaluated by the NBP specialist team. The next stage in the procurement process is the receipt of final tenders followed by the appointment of a preferred bidder(s) and contract signature.
As part of this procurement process, the bidder(s) will be required to submit their strategies, including timescales, for the network build and rollout. Delivering connectivity to the 542,000 premises that fall within the State led intervention under the NBP remains a Government priority and my Department will engage with the winning bidder(s) to ensure the most efficient deployment as part of the contract.
To improve both mobile and broadband services in rural Ireland in advance of the rollout of the high speed broadband network to be built in the State intervention area I established, in July 2016, a Taskforce to identify solutions which can be implemented in the short, medium and long term to alleviate mobile phone and broadband coverage deficits, to identify priority areas for rollout and investigate how better services could be provided to consumers. These solutions will enhance the existing services prior to the full build and rollout of the network planned under the NBP State led intervention.
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements with operators and clearing obstacles to developing infrastructure. There is a link to a list of these local Broadband Officers on my Department's website.
202. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason a company (details supplied) withdrew from the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48332/17]
View answerOn the 26th of September this year my Department received "Detailed Solutions" from two bidders as part of the ongoing procurement process to select a bidder, or bidders, who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network for those areas that will not be served by commercial operators acting alone. These bidders were Eircom Limited and the Granahan McCourt, enet, SSE, John Laing Group plc consortium. This significant and positive milestone marks the last stage of the procurement process before receipt of final tenders and ultimate progression to the appointment of a preferred bidder(s) and the rollout of the State Intervention network. My Department's specialist NBP team is in the process of evaluating these submissions. On the same day SIRO formally communicated to my Department its withdrawal from the competitive procurement process, indicating it could not develop a business case to justify continued participation in the NBP bid process. SIRO did not come to this decision lightly and remains strongly supportive of the National Broadband Plan, continuing its focus on an investment of €450m to provide fibre broadband to 500,000 premises across 51 towns across Ireland. At the end of September last, some 100,000 premises had been passed by SIRO.
Notwithstanding SIRO's withdrawal, the fact remains that this procurement process is still competitive involving two strong operators in the telecommunications field.
203. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he has taken to improve access to proper textile and clothing recycling and disposal for consumers in view of the growth in popularity of disposable clothing; the options open to persons that wish to safely recycle textiles and clothing; the steps he will take to draw the attention of persons to the dangers of the disposal of textiles and clothing with general waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48429/17]
View answerTextiles and clothing are valuable commodities and I recognise the importance of ensuring that this value is preserved for the benefit of our economy and our communities. These materials provide an excellent basis for demonstrating the purpose, benefit and potential of a circular economy. My Department supports a number of measures in this area.
Since 2004, funding has been provided to the EPA to manage Ireland’s National Waste Prevention Programme (NWPP) which includes:
- Funding the Community Reuse Network of Ireland. In 2016, Irish charity shops diverted approximately 22,100 tonnes of textiles from landfill; 50% was reused in charity shops; over 30% was sold to textile merchants and the balance was repurposed as industrial fabrics.
- A Reuse Quality Mark pilot project.
- Funding research into mattress recycling.
- Funding the EPA's ‘Material Reuse Good Practice Guide’ published this year.
In addition, there 3 waste prevention officers within the regional waste planning authorities who oversee a range of prevention initiatives such as October Reuse Month and the forthcoming Recycling Ambassadors Programme. The Ambassadors Programme will be running more than 600 workshops with communities to help people manage and reduce all waste and waste costs.
Today, Ireland has over 2,200 bring banks and 100 civic amenity sites, many of which include facilities for textile and clothing donation. The capital development of these sites over past decades was supported at an investment of €200 million.
Finally, the removal of the flat fee for household waste is expected to encourage householders to reuse or recycle textiles through more appropriate channels. The landfill levy of €75 per tonne of waste landfilled continues to provide further incentive for recycling and reuse of these materials.
