Waste Management.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 July 2006

Thursday, 6 July 2006

Questions (774)

Michael Ring

Question:

773 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to establish a national waiver scheme for low income households to coincide with the increased waste charges expected with the implementation of the EU Waste Management Directive; the progress made to date in regard to his discussions with the Department of Social and Family Affairs regarding difficulties faced by those on low incomes in paying service charges, especially in cases in which there is no waiver scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27641/06]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

In accordance with section 52 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, the determination of waste management charges, and the provision of any waivers in respect of those charges, is a matter for the relevant local authority where it acts as the service provider. Similarly, where a private operator provides the collection service, it is a matter for that operator to determine charges. My Department has no statutory function in the determination of waste charges and waivers and it is not proposed to establish a national waiver scheme in respect of waste collection charges.

However, in order to assist low income households, I have asked local authorities to engage with commercial waste collectors with a view to agreeing on a scheduling of payments, that is a pay-as-you-go system, rather than a periodic lump sum payment.

The issue of waste charges has been raised in the context of social partnership. In this context, my Department engaged last year with the Department of Social and Family Affairs to explore the issues involved. However, these discussions did not identify a role for the social welfare system in providing income support in relation to waste charges.