David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will establish a national recycling market centre to expand and develop more secure long-term markets for recyclables; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11048/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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One of the main barriers to improving and sustaining recycling performance is the lack of stable and economically attractive markets and outlets for recyclable materials and products manufactured from recycled products. The need for the establishment of a market development group, which would oversee the development of a market development programme, was outlined in the delivering change policy statement and the agreed programme for Government.

The market development group, established in July 2004, has an independent chairperson and comprises representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Enterprise Ireland, the National Standards Authority of Ireland, the Irish Business and Employers Federation, IBEC, the Irish Waste Management Association, the Small Firms Association, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, ISME, the City and County Managers' Association, the Clean Technology Centre, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The programme, which the group is undertaking, will identify new applications and markets for recyclable material and secondary recycled products. The group has been asked to identify barriers to the use and marketing of recyclable material and to develop strategies to address these. The group will also play a key role in expanding North South co-operation on market development issues. The group intends to finalise a market development programme later this year.