Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount paid into farm plastics recycling scheme by farmers in 2004; the cost of recycling the farm plastics collected under the scheme in 2004; the percentage of waste silage plastic collected in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30361/05]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures he will take to prevent further smuggling of farm plastic from Northern Ireland into the State following the Irish Farm Film Producers Group identifying this as a factor in the deterioration of the farm plastics recycling scheme; if the problem has been investigated; if he will prosecute persons in relation to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30376/05]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Irish Farm Film Producers Group is having funding problems; the steps he will take to ensure that waste farm plastic is not being left to build-up on farms; if funding will be made available to facilitate the collection of this plastic; if he will review the waste farm plastic system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30362/05]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 598: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will allocate a special fund in consultation with the Irish Farm Film Producers Group to deal with the backlog of farm plastic not covered by the current levy system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30143/05]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 599: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the remedial measures he will take to deal with the ecological problem and nuisance issue posed by the non-collection of farm plastic not covered by the current levy system in association with the Irish Farm Film Producers Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30144/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 139, 202, 204, 598 and 599 together.

Under the Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001, producers, that is, manufacturers and importers, of farm plastics, silage bale wrap and sheeting, are required to take steps to recover farm plastics waste which they have placed on the market or alternatively to contribute to and participate in compliance schemes to recover the waste in question. The Irish Farm Film Producers Group, IFFPG, is currently the sole approved body in Ireland for the purposes of implementing a compliance scheme for the recovery of farm plastics waste.

Under the IFFPG scheme, producers apply a levy on the sale of farm plastics that in turn is transferred to the IFFPG for use in funding the collection and recovery of farm plastics waste. The IFFPG is a not-for-profit organisation and it is a matter for the company, under the terms of this producer responsibility initiative and in accordance with the polluter pays principle, to set a rate of levy which will cover its operational costs.

The scheme has operated successfully to date. It is estimated that around 8,500 tonnes — 55% — of farm plastics placed on the market in 2004 were collected for recycling. An estimated 55,000 farmers availed of the collection service in 2004. The IFFPG estimates that more than 12,500 tonnes of farm plastics have been collected in 2005.

While responsibility for the collection and recovery of farm plastics rests with the compliance scheme, my Department monitors the scheme on an ongoing basis. I am aware of the specific issues raised and I am anxious to preserve and continue the success of the farm plastic scheme. Discussions are taking place involving my Department and IFFPG to explore options for improvement to the scheme and resolution of outstanding issues.