Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department will assist companies in the marketing of products made from recycled vehicle tyres such as crumb rubber; the methods they will use to assist them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13471/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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One of the main barriers to an improved and sustainable recycling performance is the lack of stable and economically attractive markets and outlets for recyclable materials and products manufactured from recycled products. The need for the establishment of a Market Development Group, which would oversee the development of a Market Development Programme, was outlined in my Department's Delivering Change policy statement and the Agreed Programme for Government.

The Market Development Group was established in 2004 and has been working on the development of a National Market Development Programme. Among the key issues to be addressed are promoting stable demand for recovered materials, supporting the achievement of economies of scale in the production of products made from recycled materials and the need for more recycling infrastructure in Ireland to reduce reliance on overseas markets.

The National Market Development Programme, which the Group is developing, will identify new applications and markets for recyclable material and secondary recycled products. While the Programme's primary focus will be on paper, plastics and organics there will be scope for initiatives in respect of recycled materials derived from other waste streams, including waste tyres. The Group has been asked to identify barriers to the use and marketing of recyclable material and to develop strategies to address these. The Market Development Programme is being finalised at present for publication shortly.

I have publicly stated my concerns about inappropriate practices in the way waste tyres are managed. It is important that a proper regulatory framework be put in place to track waste tyre flows and to encourage the recovery and recycling of this waste resource. My Department has had discussions with the Irish Tyre Industry Association (ITIA) with a view to establishing a Producer Responsibility Initiative (PRI). These discussions are continuing with the intention of concluding the necessary arrangements for such an initiative later this year. Draft Regulations which will provide a regulatory framework for this PRI have been developed and were published for public consultation last month. In preparing the draft Regulations the Department consulted with the tyre industry and the farming organisations.

The closing for submission of comments under the consultation process is 26 April. Following this my Department will examine the various submissions made and proceed with the process of finalising the Regulations