Vol. 392 No. 1
asked the Minister for Finance the steps, if any, he has taken to instruct the Office of Public Works and the Public Stationery Office to investigate the possibility of Government Departments and semi-State companies replacing the use of conventional paper with recycled paper in the course of the normal transactions, correspondence and interactions with other organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
91.
asked the Minister for Finance if, having regard to the repeated concern expressed by many environmentalist groups in relation to the rapid depletion of woodlands and forests throughout the world, he will recommend formally to the Government Departments, local authorities and to semi-State bodies the desirability of utilising recycled paper on all official transactions and communications; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 91 together. The Government Supplies Agency of the Office of Public Works is investigating, on behalf of the Taoiseach's Office, the possibilities of using recycled papers, in the context of normal cost-effective tendering arrangements, in order to reduce the threat to the environment. The Government Supplies Agency has provided the Department of the Environment with recycled paper for use in its newsletter on a trial basis. It was found, however, that the recycled paper was over 40 per cent more expensive than the paper ordinarily used. The question of purchasing further quantities of recycled paper for the requirements of the Department of the Environment, and the general question of continuing and extending this service to other Departments is under consideration.
