Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2022
175. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if additional staff or funding has been provided to the Environmental Protection Agency given the additional work the agency will have establishing a circular economy programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17858/22]
View answerIn December 2021, the existing National Waste Prevention Programme, which is operated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was revised and restructured into a national Circular Economy Programme. The new programme was published on 16 December in tandem with the All of Government Circular Economy Strategy.
The Circular Economy Programme, which together with the Circular Economy Strategy will be placed on a statutory basis by the Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022, focuses on transitioning business, citizens, and the public sector towards the circular economy. The overall approach is to influence behavioural change, support sustainable choices and inform circular economy policy.
While the previous National Waste Prevention Programme was led by an EPA Programme Manager who also has responsibility for Climate Science, Evidence and Services, the Agency has now established an additional Programme Manager position to lead the Circular Economy Programme on a stand-alone basis.
The new programme is fully funded for 2022 and the Agency has allocated some €2,791,000 to the Programme this year . Some €825,000 of this allocation will come from the EPA's own resources, with the remainder provided by my Department.
