Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 February 2014
377. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reinstate and put in place a waiver scheme for the elderly and disabled to assist them with their refuse collection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6387/14]
View answerThe Government’s new waste policy, A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, was published in July 2012. Among the measures included in the policy document was the establishment of an inter-departmental working group to report to Government with options to minimise the impact of waste charges on low-income households.
The working group, which comprises representatives of my Department and the Departments of Social Protection; Public Expenditure and Reform; Finance; and the Tánaiste's Office, submitted its second report to Government on 23 July, 2013. Government considered the report and, given the complexity of the issues involved, mandated the working group to continue to examine the design and implementation of measures to address the issue , with a view to submitting a third report to Government shortly.
