Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 477: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position with regard to what has been identified in the National Development Plan 2007-2013 report as the very important contribution that private capital has made to the modernisation of Ireland's waste management infrastructure and the anticipation that further significant investment will be forthcoming during the currency of the plan; the proposals he is considering, in consultation with the Department of Finance in view of the recent economic crises in the banking and credit systems to provide incentives to the private sector in return for further capital funding in respect of the provision of waste management infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35420/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I anticipate that the private sector will continue to invest in waste management infrastructure. Therefore, I have no plans at present to consult with the Department of Finance to provide incentives to the private sector for the provision of such infrastructure. The significant investment that has already taken place in waste infrastructure by the private sector demonstrates that such activities are generally profitable and thus do not require additional incentives. Furthermore any attempt to introduce such incentives could contravene EU rules on State Aid.

Statutory responsibility for the making and implementation of regional waste management plans, including the provision of infrastructure, rests with the local authority, or local authorities, concerned.

An objective of the National Development Plan is to continue to support local authority provision of infrastructure that will maximise the value recovered in waste recycling. Therefore, funding on waste management infrastructure by my Department is being prioritised to support the provision of infrastructure such as recycling facilities by local authorities which the private sector would not normally provide.