Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 790: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in the context of his Environment 2002 policy statement on recycling, assistance will be available to persons or groups in the community to progress projects which would have a public educational value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28697/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Agenda 21 environmental partnership fund scheme promotes sustainable development by assisting, at a local level, environmental awareness projects which involve partnership arrangements between local authorities and local community groups, schools and environmental non-governmental organisations. The scheme is co-funded on a 50-50 basis by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the local authorities. Since the scheme was introduced in 1997, the Department has contributed €1,910,409 to 1,055 projects funded under the scheme. The level of funding and the number of projects assisted has increased each year, with 208 projects receiving assistance in 2004. Many of the successful projects have recycling and waste awareness as their theme. As in previous years, projects under the 2005 scheme, which was announced in September 2005, are encouraged to support the objectives of the Department's waste awareness campaign, Race Against Waste. Local authorities are asked to give priority to projects which supported Local Agenda 21, a multifaceted blueprint for sustainable local communities that are economically strong, socially inclusive and environmentally friendly.