Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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175. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider granting additional powers to local authorities to allow them to deal with the large amount of wooden pallets which end up as discarded rubbish and disposed of legally and illegally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43676/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014 are designed to promote the recovery and recycling of packaging waste. They are intended, in particular, to facilitate the achievement of the targets for the recovery of packaging waste established by the Directive. Ireland surpassed the material specific target of 15% for wood packaging, which encompasses wooden pallets, with a 74% recycling rate in 2017. Under the Regulations producers, including manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers are obliged to segregate the packaging waste arising on their own premises into specified waste streams including wood, and have it collected by authorised recovery operators for recycling. A pilot targeted packaging enforcement project has been in operation since 2017 with the aim of promoting compliance with the Regulations, spreading awareness of the policy and legislation and developing best practice in areas of common interest without prejudice to the statutory responsibilities and obligations of the local authority or the compliance scheme. Each local authority is responsible for the enforcement of the Packaging Regulations in their functional areas and I am satisfied the necessary powers are available to them for that purpose.