Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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649. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the rationale for the recent landfill levy increase in view of the fact that the levy has increased from €30 per tonne in 2011 to €75 per tonne in 2013; if he intends to increase this levy further in future years; if he recognises the knock-on effect this measure has in waste disposal charges being passed on to the consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45618/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The landfill levy is chargeable on waste presented for disposal at landfill facilities. It is intended, primarily, to act as an economic instrument to encourage more sustainable management of our waste by diverting it away from landfill, as our reliance on landfill as the primary waste treatment method is unsustainable. While there have been a number of increases to the levy in recent years, overall income from the levy has decreased significantly from €46m in 2011 to a projected €39m in 2013. The decrease in income from the levy indicates that the instrument continues to be effective in decreasing the amount of residual waste consigned to landfill. As I outlined in A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, I will keep the rate of charge of the levy under review to ensure that its dissuasive effect as an economic instrument is maintained.

Charges applied by waste management companies are a matter between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, particularly the conditions attached to each waste collection permit issued under the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, as amended.