Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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496. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 2,220 of 23 July 2019, the specific measures under consideration to require on-site segregation of construction and demolition waste and materials under the EU circular economy package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43012/19]

Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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497. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the obligations placed on construction companies to have site waste management plans and their obligations for dealing with construction and demolition waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43013/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 496 and 497 together.

As previously outlined in the response to the Parliamentary Question referred to by the Deputy, construction companies are required, under planning legislation, to prepare site Waste Management Plans which, inter alia, outline the manner in which clients, planners, designers, contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers can act co-operatively in order to reduce construction and demolition (C&D) waste arisings and to improve the manner in which any waste generated is managed.

Notwithstanding the above, my Department established a Construction Waste Resource Group in June 2018 comprising key Construction and Demolition sector and Waste sector stakeholders, including policy, regulatory and industry representatives to provide a valuable platform to discuss and monitor C&D waste issues, including how the sector can better prevent and recycle C&D waste. Furthermore, Ireland must transpose the EU Circular Economy package by July 2020 and as part of this process my officials will examine the need for further specific measures concerning the on-site segregation of C&D waste / materials and this process will be informed by the work of the Construction Waste Resource Group.

In addition, a full public consultation on Ireland’s Circular Economy strategy will be launched before the end of this year and will seek views on all matters waste related, including those relevant to the construction sector.