Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 November 2011
266 Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress that has been made to date on plans to restructure the waste market here; the impact that these plans will have on the cost to consumers; if it is expected that the number of waste operators here will reduce as a result of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31805/11]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce competitive tendering for household waste collection, under which service providers would bid to provide waste collection services in a given area, for a given period of time and to a guaranteed level of service. This system of market structuring is known as franchise bidding. A public consultation on the issues involved, designed to inform the policy development process, concluded in September 2011. All of the responses received, including those from a range of companies within the waste industry and from consumers of waste services, are being examined and I intend to bring policy proposals to Government before the end of the year.
The number of household waste collection service providers in the market at any point in time is a function of a range of factors. The number of service providers has not been static in recent years — local authorities have exited the market and some private sector companies have acquired competitors — and further change can be expected, whether or not the system of regulation of the market is changed. In deciding on the future arrangements to govern household waste collection services, a key objective will be to ensure that a competitive environment is fostered so as to support the achievement of economically, and environmentally, efficient outcomes.
