I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together.
A Public Consultation on the second Whole-of-Government Circular Economy Strategy closed in early November and officials are now reviewing the submissions with a view to publishing the Strategy early next year.
The Strategy makes a range of commitments to leverage the Circular Economy Fund to support circular economy infrastructure including:
• supporting the Local Authority Sector to develop an integrated, consolidated, coordinated public circular economy infrastructure network that responds sustainably to consumer needs, and supports the eco-system of reuse and repair organisations and businesses, in order to deliver the objectives and aims of a circular economy;
• developing Circular Economy Demonstration and Outreach Hubs across Ireland;
• increasing the annual allocation the Department makes to the Circular Economy Innovation Grants Scheme from €650,000 to €1.5 million;
• undertaking a feasibility Study for Industrial Symbiosis on the Island of Ireland with a view to establishing an All-Island digital platform for enabling industrial symbiosis across key sector; and
• addressing financial and administrative barriers for reuse and repair including through the introduction of a repair voucher scheme.
Further investment measures will be considered in the update to the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (WAPCE) in 2026 to ensure that it aligns with and drives the implementation of the new Circular Economy Strategy. 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.
