Service Charges.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 May 2005

Wednesday, 18 May 2005

Ceisteanna (33)

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

75 Mr. Gilmore 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 over the next three years 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. [16538/05]

Freagraí ó Béal (9 píosaí cainte)

Mr. Roche

Household waste collection has developed over many years as a locally based service tailored to local needs and circumstances and is, I suspect, the most quintessential local service. The legal framework established by the Oireachtas is evidence that these services are provided locally. Existing approaches to the grant of waivers for household waste services reflect this variety of local conditions and arrangements. The Government does not propose to interfere or conflict with the principle of subsidiarity inherent in these arrangements. It has long been my belief that successive Governments have interfered too much with local government.

The issue of a waiver has been raised in the context of social partnership. As a result, my Department engaged with the Department of Social and Family Affairs to explore the issues involved. These discussions did not identify a role for the social welfare system in providing income support with regard to waste charges. I accept, however, that problems arise for households, particularly those with low incomes, from the need to find substantial lump sums for annual or standing charges and it will be important to address these in the implementation of the new pay-by-use systems. To this end, my Department has asked the relevant local authorities to seek to ensure private sector service providers make available to the households they serve a weekly payment option. This will make the use of a waste collection service for residual waste an affordable option for households which use available recycling facilities and generally act in an environmentally responsible manner.

Mr. Gilmore

If, as the Minister says, the waste collection service is a local service, will he amend the provisions of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003 which prescribe the manner in which charging is to be conducted and which, inter alia, removed the making of charges and waivers from the democratically elected members of local authorities?

Will the Minister address the significant costs now faced, particularly by low income families, in respect of waste charges? The likelihood is that if the Protection of the Environment Act 2003 remains in place, those costs will continue to rise. Can he explain why a pensioner can avail of free schemes for electricity, telephones and televisions but there is no corresponding relief for waste services?

Does the Minister agree, whatever he may say about it being a local service, given that two thirds of waste collection services are now in private hands and the legislation governing the waste service is national legislation that prescribes matters nationally that should be determined locally, there should be a national waiver scheme to provide assistance and relief for low income families?

Mr. Roche

I compliment the Deputy on his ingenious reference to the legislation but disagree with the hypothesis he makes, although that is not to say it is not a valid hypothesis in his mind.

Mr. Gilmore

Waste collection is either a local service or it is not.

Mr. Roche

Rolling back the environmental legislation is not a good way to move forward. From the Waste Management Act 1996 to the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, local authorities can set charges for waste collection services that they provide. This allows for implementation of the polluter pays principle to which we all subscribe and not just in the case of domestic waste.

Mr. Gilmore

We differ as to who the polluter is.

Mr. Roche

That is an issue for debate. Those local authorities that provide waste collection services can provide waivers. A number of other local authorities have looked to see how they can involve some form of arrangement that mitigates the problems and they have been successful in three cases. I agree that we provide many benefit in kind services and supports, particularly for pensioners, but I do not agree that there is a case for an additional one in an area that is quintessentially local.

Mr. Gilmore

Is the Minister satisfied with the situation whereby the consumer price index indicates that the average charges for local authority services have increased by 104% since 2002? Does he recognise that the cost of this service is increasing all the time? Given the provisions of the legislation introduced by his Government, county managers are required by law to impose the full cost of the charges. If he will not amend the legislation, can he offer some comfort for pensioners and those on low incomes and with large families who face these charges that are a major burden? They should be provided with some relief against paying them.

Mr. Roche

I am not happy with the level of inflation in local government charges. There is a responsibility on local authorities to ensure all charges they pass on are kept at the lowest possible level. At a time when local authorities receive more support from central Government than ever, I am not happy with those levels.

On the impact of the standards we are trying to apply nationally, we are paying high rates for waste management because of the legacy of not putting in place a proper infrastructure to handle waste. We are addressing that now. Other than making those two observations, I cannot go any further.