Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made in regard to the public consultation process on the 2003 litter monitoring body report on the problematic litter items such as chewing gum and fast food packaging; if, as promised, he will be making decisions on the measures required to deal with these problems before the end of 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3906/05]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the nature of the representations made by a company (details supplied) concerning the proposed chewing gum tax; the status of the proposed tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3940/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 133 together.

On foot of the success of the environmental levy on plastic bags, which was introduced in March 2002 and has resulted in a reduction in the dispensing of plastic shopping bags at retail outlets by over 90%, An Agreed Programme for Government contained a commitment to consider the extension of the levy on plastic bags to other materials which may be problematic from a waste management and-or litter perspective.

The litter monitoring body, which is co-ordinated by my Department, has published two reports to date in respect of the years 2002 and 2003 which provide valuable statistical data on litter pollution in Ireland. In the light of the first litter monitoring body report published in July 2003 in respect of the year 2002, my predecessor announced his intention to tackle the issue of litter caused by chewing gum, fast food packaging and automated teller machine — ATM — receipts, which were identified as significant elements of litter pollution.

To this end, a consultancy study was commissioned in September 2003 to carry out an analysis and recommend appropriate economic instruments, including environmental levies, that might be implemented to tackle the litter problems caused by these items. The consultancy report was released for public consultation on 23 September 2004.

In regard to chewing gum, the consultants' report proposed two options: a mandatory 10% levy on chewing gum sales, an average 5% pack, to be collected at manufacturer-importer-distributor level, which would generate an estimated €4 million to €5 million per annum for use in paying towards the clean up costs of chewing gum litter, or a negotiated agreement between my Department and the industry, involving the putting in place of a comprehensive action plan — incorporating intensive education and awareness campaigns and including agreed funding levels with agreed tangible targets and timeframes — aimed at changing consumer behaviour in chewing gum disposal and reducing gum litter. The consultancy report also recommended negotiated agreements with the relevant sectors on fast food packaging and ATM receipts.

The purpose of the public consultation process was to obtain the views of relevant stakeholders and other interested parties on the report's recommendations. The deadline for the receipt of comments and submissions under the public consultation phase was 29 October 2004.

During the public consultation phase, I held a meeting with representatives of the chewing gum industry to discuss the consultants' report. The industry outlined measures and solutions that it was prepared to implement by way of a negotiated agreement as a means of addressing the chewing gum litter problem. My Department has examined the various submissions made as part of the consultation process and I intend to announce a decision on these shortly.