Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 2 Jul 1996

Vol. 467 No. 7

Written Answers. - Wastepaper Prices.

Austin Deasy

Ceist:

327 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the plans, if any, he has to introduce a scheme to underwrite the guaranteed minimum price for wastepaper in view of the difficulty being experienced by individuals and groups involved in recycling. [13941/96]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

Following consultation with the Department of the Environment on this matter, I would like to respond as follows.

The strategy document Recycling for Ireland (1994) sets out the general approach being adopted by the Government to promote recycling to end 1999. The comparative costs of different waste management options have been analysed in the paperThe Economics of Solid Waste Management in Ireland (November 1995) which was commissioned by the Department of the Environment from the ESRI Environment Policy Centre. Both documents are available in the Oireachtas Library and questions on them should be addressed to the Minister for the Environment. There has been, I understand, a significant reduction in the demand and price for waste paper. This fall in both price and demand has affected the waste paper collection business. I understand that my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, intends to consult with other EU member states and the European Commission regarding possible international action to improve the situation. I have no function in relation to this matter and questions on this should be addressed to the Minister for the Environment.

Guidelines are being finalised by the Department of the Environment for environmental management by Government Departments. That could affect demand for such paper. A study commissioned by that Department and National Newspapers of Ireland is also being completed by Teagasc on the use of shredded newspaper as bedding for dairy cows. The Irish Business and Employments' Confederation has recently established a company, REPAK Ltd, to co-ordinate and finance the recycling of packaging waste, including paper packaging. REPAK will be run and financed by industry as a voluntary, industry-led initiative. These and other appropriate national measures to support waste recycling will be pursued by the Minister for the Environment in the context of the further implementation of the national strategy on recycling and of the Waste Management Act, 1996.

As the above are matters for which the Minister for the Environment is responsible questions on them should be addressed to him. As far as my Department is concerned, the Deputy will be aware that Forbairt provides financial assistance to developments which are based on the use of waste as a raw material and which are used to produce products in a traded sector. Projects must satisfy normal commercial criteria and they are considered on their merit by Forbairt on a case by case basis. Forbairt also provides assistance under the feasibility study grants programme to assist companies to investigate market opportunities for recycled products. Very basic processes such as collection, sorting, shredding and baling or incineration of waste materials are not and do not need to be supported by grants under Forbairt's scheme of aid. However, recycling enterprises would be eligible for assistance from the county enterprise boards, provided they satisfy the commercial, investment and employment criteria applied by the county enterprise boards.