Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 501: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he has taken to support a domestic recycling industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22255/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Government's policy statement, Preventing and Recycling Waste - Delivering Change, identified the lack of sustainable and economically attractive markets and outlets for recyclable materials as one of the main barriers to an improved and sustainable national recycling performance. The significant cost and effort associated with the segregation, collection, sorting, pre-treatment and reprocessing of recyclable materials demands that markets be developed to realise the full resource value of all recyclable materials that are reclaimed.

To address these issues, I have appointed a full time executive team and am providing funding of €13 million to implement the recommendations set out in the Market Development Programme for Waste Resources. The programme aims to promote sustainable demand for recovered materials and support the achievement of economies of scale in the production of products made from recycled materials. It will also identify new applications and markets for recyclable material and secondary recycled products. In this context, I recently launched the programme's inaugural Action Plan for 2009 which sets out the team's priorities for the year ahead.

I am also fully committed to the continuing development of the 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. Funding at the rate of up to 85% of approved costs will continue to be made available from the Environment Fund to support local authorities in the further development of waste recycling infrastructure. In addition, my Department also provides a subvention to local authorities to assist with the operational costs associated with running their recycling facilities. Payments amounting to €6.4 million have recently been made to the local authorities to cover operational costs incurred during the six month period from July to December 2008.