Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to improve the locations and opening hours of recycling facilities for hazardous household waste to prevent people binning hazardous items simply because they are unable to access recycling facilities. [43192/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Operational matters such as the location and opening hours of recycling facilities for hazardous household waste are the responsibility of the relevant local authorities. I am fully committed to the continuing development of a national network of waste recycling facilities. Since 2002, over €100 million has been allocated by my Department to local authorities to assist in the capital costs of establishing and developing such facilities. To date in 2008 my Department has paid €22.2 million in capital grants towards the development of waste recovery and recycling infrastructure.

My Department also provides an annual subvention to local authorities to assist in the operational costs associated with their recycling facilities, and this can include improvement in public opening hours. In 2007 authorities received €12 million in grant assistance for operational costs over the period July 2006 to June 2007 and I have made a similar provision to cover the period July 2007 to June 2008. The recently published National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2008-2012, prepared by the EPA contains a number of relevant recommendations which will now be considered by the responsible bodies concerned, including the local authorities.