Vol. 575 No. 4
158 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if his Department has guidelines for local authorities with regard to waiver schemes or other schemes of assistance for low income families with regard to waste charges; if such guidelines will be drawn up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28635/03]
My Department has not issued such guidelines given the primary responsibility on local authorities providing a refuse collection service to decide on the charges to be levied and the terms of any waiver scheme to be incorporated into the charging regime.
I have recently received a report from the Combat Poverty Agency in relation to waste charges and low income households. As the report raises income support issues in relation to payment for services to households provided other than by local authorities, which is normally arranged either through general social welfare assistance or through subsidies paid to service providers by the social welfare authorities, I will be considering the report in consultation with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to whom the report has also been submitted.
