Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 June 2021
196. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider initiating the development of a circular economy roadmap for some of the key sectors under his policy area. [28809/21]
View answer
In April, I launched a draft Whole-of-Government Circular Economy Strategy for public consultation. This strategy, when finalised, will set out the high-level directions we need to take to make our transition to a circular economy possible. The first iteration of the Strategy is not intended to be an action plan but does reflect specific targets already set and actions already being taken. Subsequent versions of the Strategy will incorporate additional actions and targets, including sector specific targets for those sectors within the Irish economy that have the potential to make significant contributions to the circular transition including, inter alia, construction, agriculture, circular design and manufacture, repair, digital services and textiles. These specific actions and targets will be delivered through a range of mechanisms, potentially including through the development of standalone Sectoral Circular Economy Roadmaps. Each new version of the Strategy is also likely to be supplemented by additional thematic analyses of specific sectors and/or activities, such as the scope for embedding circular practices within resource intensive sectors, or the potential for digital services and novel manufacturing techniques to ‘design-out’ waste. It is anticipated that the Strategy will be updated in full every 18 months to 2 years.
