Vol. 525 No. 3
307 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the expenditure in 2000 and proposed for 2001 in relation to the promotion of recycling; and the proposals he has to rapidly develop and expand the recycling infrastructure network. [24981/00]
346 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals he has to assist the establishment of an alternative cardboard recycling plant or a plastics recycling plant or a metals recycling unit in the State in view of the lack of manufacturing recycling infrastructure. [25067/00]
354 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the precise level of grant aid, available from his Department, to persons or groups who undertake major recycling initiatives; the level of grant available to a sole trader who wishes to purchase the machinery necessary to enable him to undertake wood recycling; and the level of grant aid likely to be available from the year 2001 onwards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25106/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 307, 346 and 354 together.
A total of over £0.6 million was expended during 2000 to date under the Operational Programme for Environmental Services, 1994-99, in relation to local authority and private sector waste recovery projects.
Under the national development plan, £100 million in EU-Exchequer assistance has been earmarked to support the implementation of waste management plans and the delivery of waste recovery infrastructure, and a substantial element of this sum will be available in 2001. Details of this grants scheme and other possible supporting initiatives are being finalised at present. In addition, support for appropriate recycling initiatives is also forthcoming from local authorities and other State agencies, for example, Enterprise Ireland.
Pending finalisation of the position regarding 2001, grant assistance is not currently available from my Department in relation to wood recycling.
