Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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116. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is aware that the Houses of the Oireachtas have been granted an exemption (details supplied) as part of the deposit return scheme; the reasoning for this; if he plans to seek a reversal to this exemption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12710/24]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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All retailers who sell products which come under the scope of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) are required to participate in the scheme by registering with Re-turn, the DRS operator and, unless exempt, to charge customers a deposit for every in-scope product sold, provide a take-back facility and to refund the deposit to consumers who return empty containers.

The rules of the scheme attaching to the hospitality sector are set out by Re-turn in specific guidance which can be found here: .

The retailer referred to in the question is registered with Re-turn and a take-back exemption has been approved by Re-turn, as is permitted under the Regulations. I do look forward to working with the Houses of the Oireachtas however to explore further local enhancements. This could include facilitating the collection of bottle and cans in the canteen for charitable purposes as those aspects of the scheme develop in the coming months.