John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I welcome to the House the Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. My matter on the Adjournment refers to farmyard waste, and particularly waste other than plastic. A scheme for the disposal of plastic waste was introduced a number of years ago which is operating with varying degrees of success across the country, but there is a considerable amount of other waste created on farms, just like other businesses right across the length and breadth of the country.

This issue of the difficulty of disposing of these wastes other than plastic was brought to my attention by a number of people who are involved in agriculture in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. A number of years ago it was mooted that there would be either an extension of the existing plastic waste scheme or another initiative would be introduced to provide a new scheme to cater for farmyard waste other than plastics. I hope the Minister of State has some good news in that regard.