Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

I welcome the increase in the rates of recycling. Question No. 10 was tabled after some recycling companies stated in the media that they could not compete with landfill facilities. It has been suggested that people are choosing to dump rather than recycle because the cost to such companies of recycling waste products is greater than the cost of dumping those products. The companies in question have asked for an adjustment to be made. I appreciate that the Minister has made a comprehensive statement in this regard. I do not have a copy of what he said, but I will read it later. The key issue for the recycling companies is the need for the Minister to use every instrument available to him to ensure that it is cheaper to recycle than to dump. If the Minister has to subsidise that, he should do so. Recycling is working better in some areas than in others, as the Minister pointed out. The regional waste management plans will not work unless we ensure that it is economic to recycle. We need to find markets for recycled goods in Ireland and overseas. I understand that a fund of approximately €1 million has been put in place to support recycling. I am not sure what is the exact number.

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