Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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61. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the bodies and organisations that will be consulted in the establishment of a deposit and return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5488/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The introduction of a deposit and return scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles and aluminium cans is a commitment in the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economywhich I published in September 2020. Development of the Action Plan was assisted by the deliberations of the Waste Advisory Group - a broad-based stakeholder forum which my Department chairs and which includes members from environmental NGOs, beverage producers, retailers, representatives from the waste industry and regulators. DRS was a specific topic considered by the Waste Advisory Group last year. Since publication of theWaste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, my Department has held a public consultation on design options for a DRS in November 2020. In addition, my officials have held further bilateral engagements with various stakeholders including environmental NGOs, beverage producers, retailers and representatives from the waste industry. These stakeholders will also be part of a sub-group of the Waste Advisory Group which is being established to input to the detailed design of the DRS.