Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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174. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the action that he is taking to end the use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in biodegradable containers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17854/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Per- and poly-fluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) are a family of chemicals used for their water repellent and heat resistant characteristics and can be found in many everyday products, such as outdoor clothing, non-stick coatings on cookware, fire-fighting foam as well as food packaging. Approximately 4,700 PFAS have been identified to date. PFAS are a significant concern in the EU and globally as they can cause long-lasting environmental damage and potentially adverse health impacts. In this regard it is important that they are strongly regulated at an EU level.

In recent years the EU has set in place a number of new strategies aimed at strengthening chemical legislation to ensure that chemicals are safe and sustainable by design, and that the most hazardous chemicals are banned. My Department actively engages with the EU in this matter and strongly supports the initiatives being undertaken. These include:

- EU Farm to Fork Strategy: The Commission is currently revising food contact materials legislation to improve food safety and public health. The proposed revisions are to be published by end of 2022.

- EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability: The Commission is proposing a set of actions to address the use of, and contamination with, PFAS. This includes a commitment to address PFAS with a group approach and to only allow PFAS use where it is proven to be essential.

In addition, the European Commission-led review of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive is ongoing and may include measures to deal with compostable packaging, mandating recycled content in plastic packaging, reuse, prevention, and restricting substances of concern. I am committed to ensuring that Ireland plays a lead role in pushing the level of ambition for proposals emerging from the review.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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175. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if additional staff or funding has been provided to the Environmental Protection Agency given the additional work the agency will have establishing a circular economy programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17858/22]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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In December 2021, the existing National Waste Prevention Programme, which is operated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was revised and restructured into a national Circular Economy Programme. The new programme was published on 16 December in tandem with the All of Government Circular Economy Strategy.

The Circular Economy Programme, which together with the Circular Economy Strategy will be placed on a statutory basis by the Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022, focuses on transitioning business, citizens, and the public sector towards the circular economy.  The overall approach is to influence behavioural change, support sustainable choices and inform circular economy policy.

While the previous National Waste Prevention Programme was led by an EPA Programme Manager who also has responsibility for Climate Science, Evidence and Services, the Agency has now established an additional Programme Manager position to lead the Circular Economy Programme on a stand-alone basis.

The new programme is fully funded for 2022 and the Agency has allocated some €2,791,000 to the Programme this year . Some €825,000 of this allocation will come from the EPA's own resources, with the remainder provided by my Department.