Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the impact of recent measures on ATM receipts; his views on extending such measures to the retail sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7413/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Agreement was reached at the end of December last year with the Irish Banking Federation (IBF), acting on behalf of retail banking groups with ATM networks, on a protocol to tackle the problem of litter caused by ATM advice slips. The protocol provides for a review of the impact of the agreed measures in July. Local authorities around the country have been asked to monitor and report on the level of compliance with the protocol, and its impact on litter levels, prior to this review. Anecdotal evidence gathered over the Christmas and New Year period suggests that software changes made to ATM machines have helped significantly to reduce litter arising from ATM advice slips over this busy period.

Retail receipts account for only some 0.69% of litter composition countrywide, and it is not proposed to prioritise agreement with the retail sector in this regard. Priority will be given this year to finalising agreement with the fast-food sector to tackle the problem of litter arising from take-away packaging.