Climate Change Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 July 2019

Tuesday, 9 July 2019

Questions (743)

Denis Naughten

Question:

743. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department has ceased the purchase and use of single-use plastics; the public bodies and agencies under his remit to which he has issued an instruction to cease the purchase and use of single-use plastics; when the instruction issued; the bodies which have confirmed that they no longer purchase and use single-use plastics, respectively; the bodies that have not provided such confirmation to date; when they will confirm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29991/19]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

My Department is implementing the Government decision on the 3rd January 2019 to eliminate the purchase of single-use plastic cups, cutlery and straws in Public Bodies.

My Department began to eliminate the use of single-use plastics in 2018. All staff were provided with re-usable aluminium drinking bottles and biodegradeable or compostable drinking cups were made available for use by visitors. No single-use plastic cups, cutlery or straws have been purchased by my Department since 2018.

I can also confirm that the agencies under the remit of my Department - the Western Development Commission, Water Safety Ireland, the Charities Regulator and Pobal - no longer purchase any single-use plastics. There is a small stock of plastic cups remaining in the Charities Regulator, though supply arrangements for compostable cups for the Regulator's office are already in place.