Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 November 2015
205. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify the regulatory status of ELVES limited, the compliance scheme and national collection network for end of life vehicles; if he will address concerns that the establishment of this scheme introduces a non-competitive dimension to the car-recycling sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41933/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe PRI Review report on End-of-Life Vehicles recommended the establishment of a compliance scheme for the sector. Following a number of discussions with my Department, the Society of the Motor Industry in Ireland (SIMI) indicated their intention to establish a representative body for producers, as defined under the End-of-Life Vehicle Regulations 2014. End-of-Life Environmental Services (ELVES) Ltd. has now been established by SIMI and is a representative body for all of the major car producers operating in the country. This is an essential first step towards the introduction of a compliance scheme approach for the end-of-life vehicle sector. However, ELVES Ltd. does not, as of yet, have any regulatory role or function under the current regulations. My Department is currently working on revised regulations to allow for the establishment of a compliance scheme approach within the ELV sector. Under these new regulations, any potential compliance scheme will have to fulfil a number of conditions and will have to operate under an approval issued by my Department.
My Department has had discussions with ELVES regarding its structure and operational activities . I expect that the revised ELV Regulations will be completed before the end of this year and I will then be in a position to approve ELVES as the compliance scheme for the sector. Details as to how the scheme will operate in practice and how it will interact with the car recycling sector are in the process of being finalised and discussions are on-going with both the producers and the car recycling sector in this regard.
