Vol. 566 No. 2
198 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the projects which will be funded by his Department in 2003 under the Government's environment fund, in particular the applications from County Louth local authorities. [12521/03]
The environment fund was established in 2002 with the revenues obtained from the plastic bag levy and the landfill levy. The fund will be used to support a wide range of environmental activities and initiatives, such as: the development of waste recycling and recovery infrastructure and financial assistance towards the operation of such facilities; the establishment of a national waste prevention programme, a market development programme and a recycling consultative forum; a new waste education and awareness campaign; and better enforcement of environmental legislation.
Since November 2002, I have allocated over €22 million in capital grants towards 71 local authority recycling projects. To date, the Louth local authorities have received the following allocations: a sum of €1.035 million in respect of a civic amenity facility on Newry Road, Dundalk, and a sum of €187,000 in respect of the expansion and upgrading of the existing bring bank network. I intend to announce further allocations later in the year as local authorities develop proposals.
