Dáil debates

Thursday, 27 November 2008

3:00 pm

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

Representatives from the waste industry met with officials in my Department on 24 October 2008 to discuss industry concerns regarding the sudden drop in international demand for recycled materials. Their principal issue of concern was the need rapidly to increase the storage capacity of existing permitted and licensed facilities. Immediately following this meeting, my Department contacted each local authority, by way of circular letter, outlining the possible options to deal with licensing of additional storage and stressing the need for local authorities to give priority to any applications received.

On 31 October, I announced the establishment of an action group to examine the situation and report to me within two weeks. The action group comprises representatives of industry, local authorities, Enterprise Ireland, the executive team implementing the market development programme and my Department. I have received the report and will be implementing several actions arising from it in the coming weeks. The issue is one which affects a number of EU member states. Ireland has raised it at official level with the European Commission and I will be raising it at next week's environment Council.

The current problem highlights the importance of developing new markets and uses for recyclates. I dealt with this in an earlier priority question this afternoon. I am fully committed to achieving the highest possible levels of recycling and to the continuing development of a national network of waste recycling facilities. Since 2002, over €100 million has been allocated by my Department to local authorities to assist in the capital costs of establishing and developing such facilities.

My Department also provides an annual subvention to local authorities to assist in the operational costs associated with their recycling facilities. I have approved payment of €10 million in respect of costs incurred in the 12-month period to June of this year. A further €2 million will be paid to local authorities in respect of waste electrical and electronic equipment, WEEE, collected over the same period at local authority sites. I am also providing an additional €2 million to address the increased costs to local authorities as a result of the current market situation.

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