Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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53. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the potential impact that the deposit and return scheme will have on the cost of collecting domestic recycling bins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2871/21]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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56. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when it is planned to introduce a deposit and return scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2902/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 56 together.

Under the Single Use Plastics Directive, Ireland must achieve a collection target of 90% recycling for plastic bottles by 2029 with an interim target of 77% by 2025. A report prepared by Eunomia for my Department concluded that the introduction of a deposit and return scheme (DRS) is essential if we are to reach these targets.

The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, launched last September, sets out a clear roadmap for the introduction of a Deposit and Return Scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles and aluminium cans in the third quarter of 2022. This process began with the launch of a public consultation on the design of a DRS for Ireland in October last. My officials are currently engaged in bi-lateral discussions with a range of stakeholders to progress the design of the system, including waste collectors, drinks producers and retailers and environmental NGOs. While the external report estimated that the introduction of a DRS might result in a small increase in the costs of collecting domestic waste this issue will be considered in detail during these discussions and in the detailed design of the scheme itself.