Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for choosing this matter and I thank the Minister, Deputy Shatter, for attending personally. This matter was raised in the Chamber during the Order of Business but today I wish to speak about how it is affecting legitimate small businesses and charities in the community I represent.

I wish to speak specifically about Liberties Recycling, Training and Development, which is based in Bluebell. This organisation began in the inner city in 1999. It is a small, non-profit, community-based project which operates a clothing and recycling social enterprise and charity that reaches out to help people who are recovering from drug addiction. It offers them employment as well as the chance to return to education and training. At present, Liberties Recycling employs 62 people, who recycle and collect, and sort and pack grades of clothing and footwear, for reuse in markets in developing countries and for processing for use in mattress-making and insulation. Cotton material is put into bales for usage by local customers, including Dublin Bus, motor factoring companies and cleaning companies. Representatives collect clothes through their network of clothing recycle banks and schools, by door-to-door collections and through agreement with charity shops such as those run by the Irish Cancer Society.

Currently, the organisation has 145 textile banks located around the country. However, in the past 12 months more than 80 of these have been damaged by unknown individuals. As a result, since last January there has been a loss of revenue to the project of approximately €200,000. In the past two years the loss in revenue has mounted to the staggering total of more than €600,000. This money would have been invested back into the organisation to create employment and run training programmes for the individuals involved. Each year more than 100 people receive certificates in subjects as diverse as fork-lift driving, computer applications, mathematics and payroll, as well as for participation in reading and literacy projects. In recent years thousands of young people who otherwise would have been caught up in the drug culture in their communities have gained work through this project. Some of them are now well placed in long-term work throughout the city.

The recent surge in thefts from the clothing banks means there is a realistic chance that Liberties Recycling might face closure, which would be a major blow to the community I represent in the Ballyfermot-Drimnagh-Crumlin area. For those who use the centre, it is a lifeline. The recent "Prime Time" programme in April highlighted the issue of thefts and illegal profiteering from charity clothing banks. It showed organised criminal gangs were stealing clothes from these banks, often damaging them in the process. Some charities are being brutally targeted by criminals and are at their wits' end as to how to continue and counteract such attacks on their business. We urgently need to address this problem. Recycling facilities such as Liberties Recyling, which gives opportunities to young people who normally would not have them, are in need of a response.

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