Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

142. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will make a statement on the waste and circular economy action plan. [21909/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In line with the evolution of EU and UN environmental policy, the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy was published in September 2020. The first Circular Economy Strategy and the Circular Economy Programme were published in November 2021, and in July 2022 the Circular Economy Act completed its passage through the Oireachtas.

Over the past 2 years Government have put in place the necessary policy and regulatory framework required for a successful circular transition. The National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy which was published by the Regional Waste Management Offices in April further enhances this regulatory framework by setting out the specific targets and actions which need to be taken over the period 2024 to 2030 to achieve this transition. With that policy and regulatory framework in place, Government intends to build on that momentum.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

143. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will make a statement on the circular economy unit in Government. [21910/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Circular Economy Unit within my Department was established to ensure a whole of government approach to the circular economy. It has responsibility for the development of the current and future iterations of Ireland’s Circular Economy Strategy and supporting policy coherence across government in Ireland’s continued transition to a more circular economy.

The Unit works closely with the Environmental Protection Agency in the delivery of the Circular Economy Programme with the objective of ensuring our society uses less resources and prevents waste to achieve sustainable economic growth and with the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices in the design and implementation of the National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy.

Other key responsibilities include promoting Green Public Procurement through the recently published Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan, Buying Greener, realising the potential of Circular Manufacturing through its support of CIRCULEIRE and the development of Circular Economy Sectoral Roadmaps for priority waste streams including food waste and construction and demolition waste.