Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 1460: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the finance received by each local authority in respect of landfill levies for each of the years from 2002 to 2007; the charge levied in each case; the amount estimated in respect of 2008; the plans he has to increase the levy in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30274/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The finance received by each local authority in respect of the landfill levy for the year 2007 is listed in the table below. This details the landfill levy amount collected by each local authority, the amount retained by the local authority for the purpose of defraying expenses incurred in the enforcement and collection of the levy within its functional area, and the amount paid into the Environment Fund by the local authority. This information has not yet been audited by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. The information for the years 2002 to 2006 is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Local authorities receive finance from the Environment Fund for a range of measures such as:

capital grants towards the provision of waste recycling and waste recovery facilities;

subventions towards the operational costs associated with recycling and recovery facilities;

funding towards enforcement initiatives in the area of waste; and

funding towards anti-litter and anti-graffiti awareness projects.

However, as funds from both the plastic bag and the landfill levy are paid into the Environment Fund, it is not possible to give a breakdown of the total finance received by local authorities from the landfill levy alone.

The levies were collected at the rate of €15 per tonne for waste disposed of at landfill facilities between 1 June 2002 and 30 June 2008, thereafter rising to €20 per tonne of waste. It is estimated that 2008 receipts from the landfill levy will be in the order of €32 million.

The Environmental Protection Agency's National Waste Report for 2006 identified the important role that economic instruments such as the landfill levy can play in achieving the challenging diversion targets which Ireland has to meet under the Landfill Directive and recommended that the landfill levy be increased in support of the National Strategy on Biodegradable Waste. However, under existing legislation the maximum permissible increase in the levy in any financial year is €5 per tonne. This renders the landfill levy relatively ineffective in driving the extent of change in waste management now necessary to fulfil Ireland's landfill diversion targets.

I am therefore proposing a progressive increase in the levy over a period of years. I will be bringing forward legislation to allow a significant increase in the existing levy and provide sufficient flexibility for future increases without frequent amendment of primary legislation. In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government not to alter the landfill levy in such a way as to give a competitive advantage to incineration, I am also proposing to broaden the scope of the levy to include incineration. These changes will be introduced in a balanced way so as not to give rise to market disruption, allowing the sector sufficient lead-in time to develop the necessary alternative infrastructure/treatment capacities, and to avoid negative environmental impacts such as increased levels of illegal dumping. A regulatory impact assessment (RIA) is under way in regard to these proposed changes and any increase in the levy in 2009 will take its conclusions into consideration.