Mr. Niall McLoughlin:

I thank Senator O'Reilly. That is feedback that we receive in the Department too. It is critical in how we formulate our next iteration of the circular economy strategy. That upward feedback is important and we deal with a number of different businesses, including medium, small and indeed some larger businesses. A number of supports are available to them. I point again to the circular economy innovation grant scheme, which the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, will launch tomorrow. There is substantial scope in that to apply for grant funding. It is being administered this year by Community Foundation Ireland, CFI, on behalf of the Department. CFI probably has greater capacity than us to work closely with potential applicants to analyse the business cases that are being brought forward and to have the greatest chance for success. I encourage organisations like that to engage with the process which will be launched tomorrow.

There are very ambitious plans, as I said, in respect of local authorities, municipalities and the civic amenity network. It was designed by the sector for the sector in the context of the national waste management plan, which was launched in March. It is beholden on local authorities to seriously consider the infrastructure they have in place and how they are corresponding with, relating to and supporting local organisations, be they enterprises or social community groups, in the repair and reuse space. That is essential if we are to reach the targets they have set themselves, as a sector, under their plan. There is certainly a lack of data on repairability from a local authority perspective. Local authorities are working with the Department and the EPA on a roadmap for a local repair network that can be introduced over the coming months. That will also be a very important step in this space.

I also make the point that local authorities receive funding directly from WEEE compliance schemes to support the infrastructure they have in place. They receive €1.2 million a year from those schemes to put in place the required cover, etc. Whether this has been done or not at local level varies from local authority to local authority. Ten civic amenity sites have been immediately identified in the national waste management plan for a circular economy, which should be scaled up as a priority and in the immediate future to act as exemplars of best practice that can be replicated across the local authority sector.

As I said, the Department is engaging very intensively with local authorities. It is hoped to have a roadmap in place very shortly. We are looking at what supports can be provided from the centre to ensure that the network we have in place is fit for purpose in the context of transitioning to the circular economy.