Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2023
62. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has assessed the potential for the rural economy of the development of circular economy strategies; and if she will indicate the extent to which initiatives with focus on more sustainable use of products and materials, and on recovery and reuse are figuring among projects receiving support from her Department. [19324/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Chair has approved that I take this question. Deputy Bruton wishes to inquire the extent to which the circular economy can be applied to the scheme in the Department of Rural and Community Development, with obvious advantages from the recycling, recovery point of view etc.
A vibrant circular economy is an essential part of a sustainable, carbon-neutral and resource-efficient economy. The first whole-of-government circular economy strategy was published in December 2021 by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a national policy framework for Ireland’s transition to a circular economy. Alongside this, the Department is playing its part in promoting opportunities available in the circular economy at local level. This aligns with Our Rural Future, which recognises the benefits for rural areas of transitioning to a more circular model. Social enterprises are important players in the circular economy, often being the only enterprises handling certain goods or materials that would otherwise be discarded, while also providing training and job opportunities. The continued implementation of the national social enterprise policy and the development of its successor will underpin support for these social enterprises.
Dormant accounts funding has supported social enterprises in this area, including start-up funding of €10,000 and non-financial supports for circular economy projects. The community services programmes, CSP, under my remit supports community-based organisations to promote local social, economic and environmental services. There are currently 31 CSP organisations providing circular economy-related projects, including a new initiative on upcycling of bicycles and e-bikes for those on low incomes and marginalised and disadvantaged communities. This pilot is run by the Department and the Department of Transport. The LEADER programme from 2023 to 2027 also has potential to support projects linked to the circular economy, and this will be considered as part of the current LEADER local development strategy process.
This year, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, is sponsoring a special circular economy award for the SuperValu Tidy Towns competition. We also have just opened a new strand under the community services programmes specifically for circular economy projects led or run by Travellers. We are trying to drum up more work and projects in this area, which has been inspired by projects such as Bounce Back Recycling in Galway, and Kingdom Furniture Revamp in Castleisland, two projects led by Travellers. It is an area we are determined to grow as part of the strategy.
I ask further the degree to which the Minister of State and the Department continue to promote the benefits of the use of the circular economy in rural development projects that may be available and suitable for adaptation, as well as the application of some benefit to those schemes to a greater extent to make them even more valuable than they are.
Several of the schemes and programmes I outlined impact clearly and directly on rural economies. I draw attention to the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022. There are a few points worth drawing out. The Act provides for the power to introduce new environmental levies on single-use disposable items such as coffee cups and food containers, together with a levy on waste recovery activities. These new levies, together with existing plastic bag and landfill levies, will be paid into the new circular economy fund. This funding in particular holds a lot of promise for communities, including rural communities across the country, as well as social enterprises operating in rural communities. There is a circular economy strategy at the moment and a plan to update it. The new circular economy strategy will set out targets for specific sectors of the economy, including reductions in material resource consumption, increased levels of repair and reuse and increases in the use of reusable products and materials. Importantly and specifically, balanced regional and rural development will be a theme of the new circular economy strategy.
What is the nature of the repair, reuse and recovery of the technology and of the materials? What is the extent to which that can be done and the extent to which it can be applied to and bolted onto the schemes operated by the Department? What does the Minister of State regard as a useful adaptation? A bolt-on may be of benefit to the economies of the Department.
There are a number of projects specifically under the CSP programme that specifically upcycle and recycle technology. About five or six weeks ago, I was in Clondalkin and visited the recycling project there and specifically launching the Traveller strand in relation to the circular economy. It does amazing work and engages people on Tús schemes and community employment schemes and, ultimately, a lot of them work in full-time positions in that project. I draw attention to another relevant plan on the way, which is the bio-economy plan. The bio-economy is part of our economy which uses renewable resources such as crops, forestry and fisheries to produce food, products and energy while also reducing waste. A public consultation was recently held to support the development of a bio-economy action plan, which is due to be published in the coming months. This coming action plan will contain a specific pillar dealing with communities, regions and cities.
We will proceed to Question No. 65, in the name of Deputy Gould.
Excuse me. Have I been passed by on my own question?
Gabh mo leithscéal. We can come back to you again, Deputy, if that is all right.
Have we the time for that?
I apologise. There have been several no-shows, so I appreciate your frustration. I did let you cover for a colleague. I can revert to you if you wish.
Excuse me a second.
I think there is time.
There is time. I will be quick.
The Ceann Comhairle decided that I would be-----
I am well aware that-----
-----allocated time on behalf of the colleague, and I have a question myself for which I have waited here all night as well.
Deputy, I strongly appreciate that, and I try to accommodate everybody, but, as I said, we have several no-shows.
I know, but-----
I have no problem waiting.
I will be quick as well.
Deputy Durkan was ahead of me, so-----
You are most gracious, Deputy Gould. Thank you.
Fair is fair.
