Peter Roche (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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163. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the breakdown of the €27 million funding announced for the acceleration of the circular economy transition, by county; and the timeline for when these funds will issue. [49370/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Circular Economy Fund operates on an annual basis, with the €27million allocated for 2025 activities only. The Fund utilises revenues from environmental levies to provide financial support to the initiatives as prescribed for under Section 8 (9) of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 2022.

Since the funding announcement earlier this year, successful recipients of 2025 funds have already availed of funding and will continue to drawdown funds until year end.

While the allocation of funding is currently only available in aggregate form, funds have been provided to support a range of important circular national initiatives this year including the Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme, EPA Circular Economy Programme, Anti-Dumping Initiative, Irish Environmental Network and Food Circle project. In addition, funds have been allocated to support the introduction of designated waste collection systems for textiles and hazardous waste.

More information on the initiatives supported by the Fund can be found in the annual www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/publications/circular-economy-fund-accounts/, audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG). It should be noted the audit of the 2024 accounts has yet to be finalised as the audit of accounts are typically carried out by the C&AG in the final quarter of the subsequent year.