Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 282: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of civic amenity sites under consideration for funding by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30906/05]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of civic amenity sites in operation nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30907/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 283 together.

The latest figures collated by my Department show that 64 local authority civic amenity sites were in operation throughout the country at the end of 2004 and a further five have opened to date during 2005. Some 34 of these civic amenity sites have been part funded through the waste infrastructure capital grants scheme, which is designed to assist local authorities in the provision of recycling and recovery infrastructure.

Funding has been committed to another 14 facilities which are being developed at present. Some are at a more advanced stage than others. A further 40 projects are under consideration by the Department, some of which are still at a very preliminary stage. I expect to announce a new round of grants in the very near future.