Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 September 2011
178 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way money collected from the packaging levy is used; the proportion of same that goes to the green bin collection; the agencies through which this money is channelled; the rules in place regarding its expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25380/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraDirective 94/62/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on packaging and packaging waste (the Packaging Directive) classifies items such as bottles, drink cans and containers as packaging.
While such packaging is not currently subject to a levy, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to drive a waste reduction programme as part of the overall policy in the area of a sustainable waste strategy. One of the possible elements of this waste reduction programme is the introduction of a levy on packaging.
I recently consulted with industry, other stakeholders and the public on a possible levy on packaging. This consultation closed on Friday 5 August 2011 and the submissions and comments received are currently being examined.
Environmental levies are currently in place on plastic bags and waste deposited to landfill. Revenues from these levies are paid into a ‘ring-fenced' Environment Fund and can be used to support activities that are of benefit to the environment. Details of expenditure from the Environment Fund are available in the published Environment Fund Annual Accounts. Copies up to and including 2009 are available from the Oireachtas library and are on my Department's website www.environ.ie.
Section 74(9) of the Waste Management Act 1996, as amended, specifies the purposes for which payments may be made from the Environment Fund. These include assistance in a range of areas such as:
schemes to prevent/reduce waste;
waste recovery activities;
research & development into waste management;
production, distribution or sale of products deemed to be less harmful to the environment than other similar products;
development of producer initiatives to prevent/reduce waste arising from their activities;
implementation of waste management plans;
enforcement of the provisions of any enactment relating to waste management, prevention of litter or protection of the environment;
partnership projects, that involve local authorities, to improve the quality of the environment for particular local communities;
promotion of awareness of the need to protect the environment, including national and regional campaigns;
promotion /support of education and training to assist achievement of campaign objectives;
resources (human or material) to enable education and training to be carried out;
initiatives undertaken by community groups and others for protection of the environment;
to facilitate, assist, support or promote initiatives undertaken by international organisations or other persons outside the State in respect of the protection of the environment or sustainable development or both;
and
such other purposes for protection of the environment as may be prescribed by the Minister in regulations.
179 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the grants available to community groups to establish community waste and recycling projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25381/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding through the LA21 Environmental Partnership Fund to assist small scale, local, non-profit environmental projects aimed at increasing environmental awareness and developing sustainable communities. Community groups can apply for funding for a variety of environmental projects including those related to waste reduction, re-use and recycling and enhancing public awareness of these issues. Application for funding is made to local authorities who match the funding provided by the Department. The funding programme has operated since 1997 and has grown from year to year. Funding of €305,000 was provided in 2010 to 448 projects. The 2011 Fund will be announced shortly and community groups will be invited to submit proposals, for relevant projects, to their local authority. Departmental funds allocated to projects will be matched by a similar amount from the local authority. Eligible projects are those that will support and complement, at a local level, national environmental policies such as those on Waste, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Air, Water and Sustainable Development.
Community groups can also avail of support under the measures of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 that are managed by my Department. The Programme has an objective of supporting integrated approaches to the protection of the local heritage through a suite of related preservation actions, complemented by a range of initiatives designed to develop the sustainable economic contribution of the natural heritage. In this context, actions to support waste reduction can be supported, particularly those initiated through community effort. Anyone wishing to apply for this funding should contact their Local Development Company. The contact details for the 36 Local Development Companies contracted to deliver the RDP in Ireland can be found on my Department's website at www.environ.ie.
Community groups may also apply to bodies such as the County and City Enterprise boards for grant assistance towards commercially viable waste recycling projects.
