Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Mar 1996

Vol. 462 No. 8

Written Answers. - Recycling Policy.

Mary Harney

Ceist:

142 Miss Harney asked the Minister for the Environment the discussions, if any, he has had regarding the introduction of a recycling credit scheme; his views on such a scheme; his views on whether extensive incentives need to be put in place to ensure that Ireland has the recycling infrastructure in place to meet all national and European targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5647/96]

Mary Harney

Ceist:

143 Miss Harney asked the Minister for the Environment the efforts, if any, other than the REPAK industry initiative, that are in hand to encourage the development of a full recycling industry; the concerns, if any, he has that current initiatives concentrate on packaging alone without addressing other forms of waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5648/96]

Mary Harney

Ceist:

144 Miss Harney asked the Minister for the Environment the steps, if any, he intends taking to address the shortfall faced by those involved in recycling in view of his withdrawal in 1995 of direct financial support for the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5649/96]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 142, 143 and 144 together.

The Government strategy document "Recycling for Ireland" sets national targets and policies for waste recovery and recycling for the period up to 1999. A review and update of this strategy will be published shortly.

Recycling efforts will be supported in the immediate future by the provisions of the Waste Management Bill, 1995 due for enactment shortly, by the mobilisation of the industry-led REPAK scheme, and by new grant assistance under the waste management sub-programme of the Operational Programme for Environmental Services. Additional support may be available in appropriate cases from the enterprise development agencies at local and national level.

Initiatives under way in relation to waste, other than packaging, include a study on the use of shredded newsprint as animal bedding, which has been jointly commissioned by National Newspapers of Ireland and my Department and is being finalised; and proposals being developed in co-operation with SIMI and farm plastics interests, respectively, in relation to car batteries and farm plastics.

Since, 1989, a total of £2.2 million has been paid by my Department by way of 99 grants to 58 organisations involved in the recycling of a wide range of waste materials. Grant assistance is directed primarily to support expenditure of a capital nature on recycling infrastructure and is not generally made available to support operational costs. These grants will have an enhanced allocation of some £2 million this year.