The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, and the Waste Action Plan 2020-2025, A Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (September 2020) commit to a range of actions to support Ireland's transition to a circular economy, including the publication of a Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy (December 2021). The EPA’s Circular Economy programme, launched in December 2021 and funded by my Department, supports the implementation of the Strategy. A key theme of these policies and projects is the diversion of materials away from waste streams and into re-use.
The Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS), administered by my Department, directly supports the growth of the circular economy in Ireland via a competitive funding process. In 2021, 10 projects were initially selected to benefit from a total funding pot of €490,000. Ultimately 2 of those projects could not be proceeded with, and no public expenditure was incurred in relation to either.
A second CEIGS funding call was launched in 2022, with total available funding set at €650,000. The 2022 funding call closed in December and the applications received are currently being evaluated.
The Circular Economy Strategy further commits to increasing per annum funding under the CEIGS to €1million by 2024.
Separately, funding of just under €1.5m has been committed to the circular manufacturing platform Circuléire in 2023. Circuléire is a supported network of manufacturers, dedicated to the development of large-scale systems-level innovation and demonstration projects, designed to foster and enhance circular economy knowledge, capacity building and implementation by Irish industry.
The second iteration of the Whole-of-Government Circular Economy Strategy is to be published by the end of this year, and I intend to consider additional funding opportunities for circular activities as part of the Strategy's preparation.