Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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165. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to remove the registration fee per product under the deposit return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29602/23]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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166. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to outline the measures he is taking to ensure that the deposit return scheme does not importunately impact on small-scale drinks producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29603/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together.

In November 2021, the Deposit Return Scheme Regulations (S.I. No 599 of 2021) were signed. Under these Regulations, it is the responsibility of producers to establish and operate a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), to be funded by the following:

• Registration fees set by the approved body,
• Producer fees set by the approved body,
• Unredeemed deposits,
• Revenue derived from sale of returned containers, and
• Any other income sources created by the approved body.

In January 2023, Re-turn published its producer fees on www.re-turn.ie/producer. Producers can register their products for free until 31 October 2023. From 1 November 2023, product registrations will incur a fee of €100.

I am aware of the concerns raised by small producers in relation to DRS. Re-turn are engaging with those producers and are in the process of considering what measures can be put in place to address those concerns.