Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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124.To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he contacted Re-turn Ireland to request that they update their website to provide details of their board of directors; if he believes that transparency around the governance of Re-turn Ireland is critical to the successful operation of that entity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33770/24]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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125.To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of staffing of Re-turn Ireland, including the board of directors; the Governmental controls on the levels of remuneration within the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33771/24]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 125 together.

Re-turn is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee (CLG) set up by beverage producers to meet their obligations under the DRS Regulations. Re-turn is responsible for all operational and funding matters relating to the DRS. While I have no function in the day-to-day business operations of this company, I am is satisfied that there are appropriate regulatory and administrative controls in place to monitor the performance of the Scheme. Officials from my Department are in regular contact with Re-turn, including through weekly meetings and the provision of daily performance metrics.

The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is an extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme, whereby producers are given responsibility for the collection and disposal of their products. My Department has already successfully introduced a number of EPRs for other consumer products, such as batteries, Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) and tyres.

As with the other EPRs, it is the responsibility of producers to establish and to nominate an operator of the scheme for approval by the Minister. All EPRs operate under minimum requirements set out in the Waste Management Act and in accordance with a Code of Corporate Governance developed for EPR schemes, which is published on the Department's website (www.gov.ie/en/publication/63441-extended-producer-responsibility/)

Re-turn, the DRS operator, must also comply with the DRS Regulations and the terms and conditions set out in their approval, issued in accordance with those Regulations. It is also subject to the Companies Act 2014 and oversight by the Company Registration Office and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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126.To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the returns made under the deposit return scheme, by month, since it began operating; the estimated corresponding unredeemed number of bottles, and their worth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33772/24]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Since the Deposit Return Scheme was introduced on 1st February, almost 302 million containers have been returned. The breakdown by month is shown in the table below.

Data in relation to unredeemed containers is not yet available. As is the case with all our waste statistics, performance of the scheme will be measured on an annual basis – i.e. number of units returned and recycled compared to the number of units placed on the market in a given year. A return rate calculated over shorter periods will not provide reliable information on the scheme’s performance.

To date, €53 million has been refunded to consumers. Given the open-ended nature of Re-turn’s liability to refund deposits, a redemption rate calculated over a short period will not provide a true reflection of unredeemed deposits. Any unclaimed deposits will be retained by Re-turn and will be reinvested in the scheme and recycling initiatives. Re-turn will also pay VAT to Revenue on unredeemed deposits.