Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012
399. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to problems with the standards of service being provided by private operators who have replaced local authorities in relation to refuse collection; his plans for licensing; the standards that will apply across the board in contracts offered to private operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53801/12]
View answer400. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to regulate private operators who are now currently replacing the local authority refuse collection service here; if he has received many complaints in relation to a private operator company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53803/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 399 and 400 together.
The operational implications of the transfer of waste collection services by City and County Councils to private operators are matters in the first instance for the local authorities concerned. My Department’s role is to provide a comprehensive legislative and waste policy framework through which the enforcement authorities, such as the local authorities, operate. In this regard, I published A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland in July, 2012. This policy sets out a range of measures which will significantly revise the current regulatory regime to ensure, inter alia, that waste collected is managed in accordance with the waste hierarchy; that mandated service levels are delivered; and that Customer Charters are put in place by all waste collection providers. Customer Charters will be required to clearly set out information for customers in relation to issues such as charging structures, procedures for dealing with customers who may fall into arrears, and arrangements for switching from one waste collector to another. I have written to the waste management industry in relation to the development of such Customer Charters ahead of the development of the new regulatory regime.
The work of developing new regulatory structures to give effect to these measures has commenced and my Department is engaging with a range of key stakeholders in relation to the detailed design of the new system. It is my intention that the improved regulatory regime will aid local authorities to deliver both enhanced environmental performance and to ensure a quality service for consumers.
