Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2023
165. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to remove the registration fee per product under the deposit return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29602/23]
View answer166. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the measures he is taking to ensure that the deposit return scheme does not importunately impact on small-scale drinks producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29603/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together.
In November 2021, the Deposit Return Scheme Regulations (S.I. No 599 of 2021) were signed. Under these Regulations, it is the responsibility of producers to establish and operate a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), to be funded by the following:
• Registration fees set by the approved body,
• Producer fees set by the approved body,
• Unredeemed deposits,
• Revenue derived from sale of returned containers, and
• Any other income sources created by the approved body.
In July 2022, I approved an application from Deposit Return Scheme Ireland CLG (trading as Re-turn) to operate as an approved body under the DRS Regulations. Re-turn is a new, not-for-profit company set up by beverage producers and retailers to meet their obligations under the DRS Regulations. Re-turn is responsible for all operational matters relating to the DRS, including the setting of registration and producer fees.
In January 2023, Re-turn published its producer fees on www.re-turn.ie/producer. Producers can register their products for free until 31 October 2023. From 1 November 2023, product registrations will incur a fee of €100.
I am aware of the concerns raised by small producers in relation to DRS. Re-turn are engaging with those producers and are in the process of considering what measures can be put in place to address those concerns.
