Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 June 2022
243. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reopen the Rural Innovation and Development Fund to include capital projects such as composters under the waste reduction section. [32840/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra244. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider grant funding for waste reduction capital projects. [32842/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together.
I would like to acknowledge that the Deputy has clarified that he is referring to food waste in both questions.
The Rural Innovation and Development Fund (RIDF) in my Department currently provides funding for activities or items that relate to the promotion and/or development of innovative food waste reduction pilot projects which are designed to reduce food waste generated by food businesses, retailers, wholesalers or suppliers in rural areas. The full amount of the available funding for food waste reduction projects under the RIDF this year for initiatives aimed at improving sustainability and reducing food waste has already been allocated to four such innovation projects. In that context, funding for capital expenditure is not deemed to be eligible for assistance.
My Department has provided capital funding for the purchase of equipment by the Prepared Consumer Food Centre at Teagasc, Ashtown, which allows food businesses to pilot equipment and to enable adoption of novel technologies concerning food shelf life, packaging and related issues.
As the Deputy is probably aware, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) is the lead Department for the Government's Climate Action Plan. My Department works closely with that Department, with the Environmental Protection Agency, and with other relevant state agencies in relation to food waste and on the development of the Food Waste Prevention Roadmap.
I am committed to working to achieve reductions in food waste as outlined in the Government’s Food Vision 2030, in the Climate Action Plan and in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
