Waste Disposal Charges

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 July 2016

Thursday, 7 July 2016

Questions (127, 129)

Clare Daly

Question:

127. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it is within the terms of the price freeze agreed by the Government with waste companies for a company (details supplied) to demand that customers who wish to stay on their existing plan and not transfer to pay-by-weight have €199 credit in their accounts by 1 August 2016, despite those customers having already paid an annual service charge at the beginning of the year to cover all of 2016. [20242/16]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

129. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the actions of a waste company (details supplied) and his proposed actions to ensure that the company is honouring the agreement reached between his Department and waste companies with regard to charges; the steps he will take to ensure that this company honours the agreement that was reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20285/16]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 129 together.

The Government secured an agreement with all major waste collection companies to freeze charges, so that customers pay no more than they are currently paying for waste collection over the next 12 months for the same level of service.

I have also been clear that the operation of the price freeze by the industry will be closely monitored, indicating that, if there was evidence of the agreement being breached, I would look at whether further legislative measures were necessary to enforce it. In this regard, my Department met with representatives of the waste industry earlier this week and will continue to liaise with operators as necessary with regard to the consistent implementation of the agreement.