Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2020
777. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated revenue that would be raised by extending the plastic bag levy to other single-use plastic items; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11469/20]
View answerIn November 2019, I published a consultation paper relating to the development of new environmental levy proposals on a phased basis over the period 2020-2025. A copy of this paper is available at www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/environment/consultations/Pages/Public-Consultation-on-the-Proposed-Introduction-of-new-Environmental-Levies.aspx.
The proposals, which include a coffee cup levy, a waste recovery levy, and increases to the existing plastic bag and landfill levies are aimed at encouraging positive environmental behavioural change and climate action. With the focus on behavioural change, only preliminary scoping was carried out on potential revenue from the proposed Phase 1 levies. In this regard, it is estimated that revenue in the range of €8m to €9.5m per annum would be generated from a waste recovery levy, and from the increases to the landfill and plastic bag levies. In relation to a coffee cup levy, it is not possible at this time to produce a reliable estimate of potential revenue as defining the scale of disposable cup use is challenging with no single robust and authoritative source of data.
Work is currently on-going on the further development of these proposals, including having regard to the submissions received via the consultation process.
