Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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109. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there are any proposals by the Government to bring in a scheme to help farmers pay for the cost of disposing of tires properly (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41302/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Ireland introduced an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for tyres in 2017 which is operated by Circol ELT. Producers of tyres are financially responsible for the full life cycle of their products. The EPR Scheme manages tyres of passenger cars, 4x4s, van and motorcycle tyres to find sustainable solutions for managing waste tyres. Currently agricultural, truck/bus, construction and industrial tyres do not incur an Environmental Management Cost (EMC) and the compliance scheme is not responsible for arranging the end-of-life management of these tyres.

Under the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, from early 2025, an EMC will be extended to agricultural, truck/bus, construction and industrial tyres. It is proposed that the extension of the EPR scheme will commence by the end of Quarter 1, 2025. A public consultation regarding the extension is currently live and can be accessed here .

As part of the preparation for this extension, Circol ELT intends to arrange for a collection of tyres lawfully held on farms, early in 2025.