112. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the supports that are available for innovative Irish solutions that encourage reusable packaging, reduce single-use waste, and provide measurable data to advance Ireland's circular economy objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56723/26]

The recently introduced Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) contains a number of measures intended to increase the usage of reusable packaging. These include targets for reusable packaging from 2030, varying from 10% to 100% depending on the sector and usage scenario. Under the PPWR, final distributors in the take-away sector will also be obliged, from 12 February 2028, to give consumers the option of obtaining their products in reusable packaging within a system for reuse.

In the meantime, packaging producers are incentivised through extended producer responsibility (EPR) fees to minimise packaging including through reuse. Repak, the EPR scheme for packaging in Ireland, is developing a Prevention and Re-Use Strategy for packaging, accompanied by a Packaging / Re-Use Innovation Fund.

The Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS) provides funding for innovative projects focused on themes such as waste prevention, plastics, and C&D waste to advance the circular economy in Ireland. By funding these projects and enterprises, the CEIGS directly supports the growth of the circular economy in Ireland and provides high-profile examples of best practice.

Since the first funding call in 2021, CEIGS funding totalling €1.79 million has been awarded to 36 projects covering a wide range of circular economy themes including food waste, plastics, EEE, single-use plastics, packaging, construction, textiles and general waste.

As per the commitment in the Circular Economy Strategy, funding for the CEIGS in 2026 has increased from €650,000 to €1.5 million and a call for applications will be launched in the coming weeks.