Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 353: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding grants available to voluntary, community or co-operative groups for initiatives in relation to recycling, composting or reusing waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29974/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides funding through the Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund to assist small scale, local, non-profit environmental projects aimed at increasing environmental awareness and developing sustainable communities. Community groups can apply for funding for a variety of environmental projects including those relating to recycling, composting or reusing waste. Application for funding is made to local authorities who match the funding provided by the Department. The funding programme has operated since 1997 and my Department is providing funding of €395,000 for the scheme in 2011. An invitation to community groups to submit proposals for the 2011 scheme is currently open; submissions are to be returned to the relevant local authority by 19 October.

Community groups in rural areas can also avail of support under the measures of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 that are managed by my Department. The Programme has an objective of supporting integrated approaches to the protection of local heritage through a suite of related preservation actions, complemented by a range of initiatives designed to develop the sustainable economic contribution of our natural heritage. In this context, actions to support waste reduction can be supported, particularly those initiated through community effort. Anyone wishing to apply for this funding should contact their Local Development Company. The contact details for the Local Development Companies contracted to deliver the RDP in Ireland can be found on my Department's website at www.environ.ie.

A number of grants are also available to voluntary, community or cooperative groups for initiatives in relation to preventing, recycling, composting or reusing waste, through the National Waste Prevention Programme which is run by the Environmental Protection Agency.