Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2026
174. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the specific policy measures that will be introduced to increase Ireland’s circular material use rate by 2 percentage points annually to reach 12% by 2030; the interim milestones that have been established to ensure this target is achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27551/26]
View answerThe second Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy 2026-2028 was published on 24 February 2026 and represents the next phase of Ireland’s transition towards a resource-efficient, innovation-driven, and low-carbon economy. It replaces and builds upon the first Circular Economy Strategy (2021–2023) and is prepared under section 7 of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022.
A central aim of the strategy is to increase Ireland’s Circular Material Use Rate (CMUR) by 2 percentage points annually, reaching 12% by 2030. The Strategy includes targets and actions for specific economic sectors which will drive the achievement of this objective, driving reductions in material resource consumption in addition to increases in the levels of repair and reuse, and use of re-usable products and materials.
Implementation will focus on accelerating action through achieving the actions and targets contained within the Strategy, via targeted milestones and collaboration across Government Departments. Progress will be tracked through a new National Circularity Dashboard, to be developed by the Department, in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Central Statistics Office (CSO). An annual report to Government will measure progress toward circularity targets.
Full details of all actions and targets are available in the Strategy at the following link: assets.gov.ie/static/documents/7484ab1d/Circular-Economy_Strategy-2026-2028-en.pdf.
