David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 187: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans he has to encourage and support local authorities to open civic amenity sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25187/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In line with the commitment given in the Programme for Government my Department is continuing to provide grants to support the development of waste recycling facilities such as civic amenity sites. This year alone my Department has provided capital grants towards the development of 22 specific civic amenity sites and has paid €8.274 million in grant assistance to Local Authorities under the Waste Management Infrastructure Capital Grants Scheme. This scheme, which was launched in 2002, provides supports towards the development of Ireland's waste recycling and recovery infrastructure by providing assistance towards projects such as bring banks, composting facilities, civic amenity sites and materials recovery facilities.

The current Scheme is drawing to a close but my Department is in the process of finalising a new Grants Scheme, to be launched later this year, which will ensure that grant assistance continues to be available to encourage Local Authorities to open additional recycling facilities such as civic amenity sites.