Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2026
160. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current strategies being implemented to reduce single use plastic consumption; and to outline any new initiatives planned for the next fiscal year. [27368/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive 2019 aims to prevent and reduce the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, in particular the marine environment and human health.
Amongst its measures, the SUP Directive requires Member States to effect an ambitious and sustained quantitative reduction in consumption of certain SUPs for which there is no alternative (drinking cups including covers and lids, and containers of prepared food for immediate consumption) by 2026 (compared to a 2022 baseline).
In July 2021, Ireland's Single Use Plastics Regulations introduced a range of measures to eliminate or reduce the impact of single use plastics (SUP) including a ban on certain SUP products, including cutlery, plates, beverage stirrers, food containers and beverage cups and containers made of expanded polystyrene and all products made from oxo-degradable plastic,
Furthermore, a national Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) was introduced in Ireland in February 2024 to incentivise the separate collection and recycling of single use plastic bottles and cans. Uptake of the DRS has been very positive to date and over 2.64 billion containers have been returned.
Legislative powers are also in place, through the Circular Economy Act 2022, to implement environmental levies on a range of single use products including single-use cups, single-use containers and other forms of single-use packaging.
In 2022, the Department commissioned a Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) on the introduction of a levy on single use cups and a public consultation on draft regulations was undertaken. It was envisaged at the time that a levy might be introduced in a similar way to the plastic bag levy (i.e. at the point of sale in a retail premises).
Following further engagement with the Revenue Commissioners, a different collection model, collecting the levy when cups are first placed on the market by producers or importers, was discussed. Such a revision would require an amendment of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022. The Department is working with the Revenue Commissioners on designing the provisions required to make this amendment.
In 2025, the Department commissioned an update to the RIA to explore the potential impacts of the revised collection model and any other policy measure to reduce single use cup consumption effectively. That work is close to finalisation and will inform next policy steps. Any future regulations will first be subject to a public consultation and will include an SME test.
I am also progressing a range of initiatives to reduce single use plastic consumption with funding from the Circular Economy Fund. These include:
• IRD Duhallow's 'Circular Cups for Community Events' providing high quality reusable cups to community events across the south of the country, eliminating single use cup waste was launched in 2025.
• The National Federation for Group Water Schemes to install public drinking water fountains in the communities they serve. 43 fountains were installed in 2025 and a further 86 are planned for installation in 2026.
• Ireland's Circular Economy Programme (2021 to 2027) which is led by the Environmental Protection Agency. Plastics are a priority area under the programme. Relevant activities include the development and reporting of green public procurement criteria, circular economy funding for local authorities, managing the national reuse and repair network, and completing studies, guidance and behavioural research.
• Enforcement resources at the EPA that includes enforcement of single use plastics product bans.
• Local Government education and awareness raising campaigns amongst business and the public relating to the banning of certain single use plastics items.
• Continued application and enforcement of the plastic bag levy.
