Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 573 and 575 together.

Under the Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations, 2017 a new scheme for tyres and waste tyres was introduced and is operated by Repak ELT, supported by the Producer Register Limited.

All tyre producers and retailers are statutorily obliged to be members of the scheme. Under the regulations, all operators are obliged to provide data on the numbers of tyres coming on and off the Irish market. The scheme carries out all regulatory functions on behalf of its members and is funded by a visible Environmental Management Charge (vEMC) as established in the Regulations.

There are no targets in relation to the overall recovery and recycling of waste tyres contained in the Regulations, however in accordance with the terms of the scheme’s Ministerial approval, Repak ELT are obliged to work towards minimum targets by the end of 2018 and each subsequent year of the approval:

- a recovery rate of 70% of all tyres collected, and

- a recycling rate of 30% of all tyres collected.

Repak ELT, published their Annual Report for 2018, which can be accessed at the following link and it shows that the scheme exceeded these targets.

In establishing the scheme, it was agreed that a review of the data flow and scheme operation would be undertaken at 6 and 12 months after its introduction. The scheme was kept under close review for the initial six months and three amendments were carried out to the Regulations. My Department engaged an independent body, RPS Group, to carry out a review of year 1 of the operation of the scheme.

The review is scheduled to be completed in quarter 3 of this year and the conclusions of this review will inform my decisions in relation to the Regulations supporting the Scheme.