Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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168. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the Government's position on the proposed amendment to Annex XXX No 1907/2006 by the European Commission which will ban the use of plastics on artificial pitches; if he will outline the timing and implementation of the legislation; the impact that it will have on existing playing surfaces such as 3D and 4D pitches that contain plastic inserts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3374/23]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The European Commission’s current proposal for a microplastics restriction under the REACH Regulation (EC No 1907/2006) is a broad and ambitious environmental measure which will be directly applicable in Ireland and other European countries once it has been adopted. The proposed restriction of intentionally added synthetic polymer microplastics in products will have a range of implications for many goods and consumer products, including cosmetics, agriculture, horticulture, detergents and recycled rubber infill for artificial sports pitches.

Since the publication of the proposal in September 2022, officials in my Department have actively engaged with relevant Government Departments and agencies to assess the wide-reaching environmental, socio-economic and practical impacts of the proposed restriction, including with the Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) in relation to its potential impact on sports pitches.

The proposed restriction is primarily an environmental measure and a number of State bodies and agencies will have roles in giving effect to the restriction.

The proposal is currently under discussion at the Article 133 REACH Committee. It is not anticipated that the restriction will be adopted, published or enter into force prior to June/July. However, once the restriction enters into force, granular rubber infill cannot be placed on the EU market after a transition period of 6 years. Any infill that has already been sold prior to the expiry of the 6-year transition period can still be used.

The Deputy should note that the primary aim of the restriction is to eradicate over time, the leaking of intentionally added microplastics from various sources, including artificial sports pitches, into the environment and to replace these microplastics with more environmental and sustainable alternatives.

The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) is the primary source of Government funding and supports for these types of facilities through the operation of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP). The SCEP has operated since 1998 with the most recent round in 2020.

It is estimated that under the latest round of the SCEP at least 350 of the projects involved “Artificial Playing Surface Developments”. It is a requirement of the SCEP that all materials purchased and development works generally comply with all relevant national and EU regulations, and the potential impacts of the forthcoming restriction will be highlighted to new applicants for future rounds of funding from DTCAGSM.

The current restriction proposal, and the provisions regarding the use of recycled rubber as infill material for artificial sports pitches, is based on the Commission’s assumption that any new pitches being installed now would use an alternative to granular infill.

The main impact foreseen on artificial sports pitches will be around ensuring the full useful lifetime and benefits and the continued maintenance of the pitches (estimated at c. 10 years), which will exceed the current 6-year transition period contained in the Commission’s proposal.

In view of the potential impacts for existing pitches, officials representing Ireland on the REACH Committee are seeking agreement from the Commission and other Member States for an extended transition period, beyond the current 6 years from date of the restriction entering into force, for this specific aspect of the broader restriction.

The Deputy will find further details on the background to this restriction on the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) website.