Written answers

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Environment Fund

Photo of Kevin HumphreysKevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if any consideration has been given to ending the ring-fencing of the Environment Fund or reducing the amount of the bag and landfill levies paid into the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38206/12]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The proceeds of the Environment Fund, which was established under the Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001, can only be used for activities that are of benefit to the environment. Section 74(9) of the Waste Management Act 1996 (as amended), specifies the purposes for which payments may be made from the Environment Fund. These include assistance in a range of areas such as:

- schemes to prevent/reduce waste ;

- waste recovery activities ;

- research & development into waste management ;

- production, distribution or sale of products deemed to be less harmful to the environment than other similar products;

- development of producer initiatives to prevent/reduce waste arising from their activities ;

- implementation of waste management plans ;

- enforcement of the provisions of any enactment relating to waste management, prevention of litter or protection of the environment ;

- partnership projects, that involve local authorities, to improve the quality of the environment for particular local communities ;

- promotion of awareness of the need to protect the environment, including national and regional campaigns

- promotion /support of education and training to assist achievement of campaign objectives ;

- resources (human or material) to enable education and training to be carried out ;

- initiatives undertaken by community groups and others for protection of the environment ;

- initiatives undertaken by international organisations and others for protection of the environment and/or sustainable development;

- such other purposes for protection of the environment as may be prescribed by the Minister in regulations.

I have no plans to remove the ring fenced nature of the Environment Fund or to reduce the rate of either the Environmental Levy on Plastic Bags or the Landfill Levy. These levies are designed to encourage a shift away from environmentally unsustainable practices towards more environmentally friendly ones.

Question No. 1086 answered with Question No. 1022.

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