Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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305. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans a tyre disposal scheme for the agricultural industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20692/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations 2017 were introduced to ensure producers take responsibility for the environmentally sound management of tyres placed on the Irish market throughout their lifecycle. Ireland's Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for tyres is operated by Circol ELT. The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy 2020-2025, however, commits to extending the regulations to additional categories of tyre, including agricultural tyres, to ensure best environmental management and the fair distribution of costs.

A consultation with the sector on the extension of the scheme closed in late October last year. My Department is considering the implications of an extension of the scheme, and is working to ensure that any such extension is underpinned by careful analysis of the implications, with a view to the long-term viability of an extended scheme.

This year, Circol ELT is planning to collect used tyres lawfully held on farms to support the agriculture sector in adapting to the extended scheme.