Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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123. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government how the Government proposes to fulfil its pledge in the programme for Government to invest in waste sorting technology following the EPA statement in September that it was “almost certain” that Ireland will miss mandatory recycling targets in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60475/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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To date Ireland has been successful in achieving the various municipal waste recycling targets set at a European level, but it is acknowledged that achieving the targets set for 2025 and beyond will be challenging.

The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (WAPCE) sets out an overall policy and regulatory approach to support the development of adequate and appropriate treatment capacity at indigenous facilities to ensure that the full circularity and resource potential of materials is captured in Ireland.

The Regional Waste Management Planning Offices launched a new National Waste Management Plan (NWMP) in 2024 which sets out the required actions at local and regional levels to deliver on the WAPCE and support Ireland's circular economy transition including several specific actions to address domestic waste treatment infrastructure challenges.

In keeping with the polluter pays principle, Extended Producer Responsibility Schemes also have a key role in meeting national collection and recycling targets and in supporting investment to ensure that as much material as possible can be recycled and recovered domestically.

The WAPCE will be updated in 2026 to ensure that it aligns with and drives the implementation of the new Circular Economy Strategy which will be published shortly. The updated WAPCE will also reflect the commitments given in the Programme for Government and will inform and give direction to waste planning and management in Ireland, the delivery of appropriate infrastructure, and how we can enhance our capacity to transform waste into secondary materials and create a culture of circular behaviour.