Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 534: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the approved facility in Westmeath and Longford for the collection and recycling of farm plastics. [8856/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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To address the issue of accumulated backlogs of farm plastic, designated facilities are being provided on a temporary, once-off basis by local authorities where farmers may deposit stockpiled farm film plastic and silage wrap. These special arrangements operated on a pilot basis in the first instance in counties Clare, Galway, Mayo, Offaly and Waterford during June and July of last year. The service was provided free to the farmer and funding to assist the local authorities is being made available from my Department through the Environment Fund.

The collections were well supported by farmers in the counties participating in the pilot phase, leading to large quantities of plastic being deposited at designated sites. A significant finding from the pilot scheme was that it is not possible to operate collections in a large number of counties at the same time due to capacity constraints on the part of recovery operators. Accordingly, it was necessary to roll out the scheme to other areas on a staggered basis. Arising from a comprehensive examination of the information available, I approved further collections of waste silage/bale wrap by Carlow, Leitrim, Longford, North Tipperary, Roscommon and Wicklow County Councils which have only recently concluded.

Details of all designated facilities provided in Longford for the temporary collection and storage of farm film plastic and silage wrap may be obtained directly from Longford County Council who operated the scheme in that county. Announcements regarding further extensions of collections to other areas, including County Westmeath, will follow a review of this second phase of the scheme.