Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2012
495 Deputy Willie O’Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the consultation process for encouraging a competitive regime for waste services has been completed; if not, when it will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20037/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra500 Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will introduce a national bin waiver scheme in view of the fact that the waiver scheme in south Dublin recently came to an end. [20167/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra518 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a decision will be made in respect of the restructuring of the waste market as proposed by him; if he has had any discussions with the Competition Authority in respect of the proposed change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20425/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra519 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has considered the findings of an economic report which examined the proposed restructuring of the waste market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20426/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra520 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has conducted any estimate of the costs associated with the proposed restructuring of the waste market; in particular, if the cost of transferring to a tendering system for waste contracts has been estimated; if the potential increase in costs to consumers has been quantified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20427/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra521 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has estimated the number of waste companies that would close as a result of the restructuring of the waste market, currently under consideration by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20428/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra522 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the proposed restructuring of the waste market is designed to ensure the viability of one waste facility, namely the proposed waste to energy plant at Poolbeg, Dublin; his views on whether the contractual arrangements entered into between the parties to this plant could undermine the waste sector by giving one facility a competitive advantage over others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20429/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra530 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding his examination of the waste industry here; and to outline a timeline for potential proposals. [20580/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 495, 500, 518 to 522, inclusive, and 530 together.
The 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, a system otherwise known as ‘franchise-bidding.’
A public consultation designed to inform the policy development process concluded in September 2011. A large number of responses were received from a broad spectrum of interests, including the Competition Authority. A consensus is not apparent and, on almost all of the relevant issues, a considerable breadth of opinion was expressed. All of the responses received, in addition to a summary document, are available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie.
My Department is currently finalising a regulatory impact analysis to examine the costs, benefits and other impacts of options for change, and to inform how best to regulate the household waste collection market. The analysis has been informed by the outcomes of the public consultation process and by information subsequently provided by consultees, including relevant economic information. I intend to publish the regulatory impact analysis concerning the regulation of household waste collection subsequent to Government's consideration of the issues.
Household waste collection is a service of critical importance to every household in the country. My intention is to ensure that household waste collection is regulated so that, as a society, our collective welfare is maximised. I wish to see competitive, high quality, and efficient services provided to households in all areas of the country, and I wish to see the best possible environmental outcomes achieved.
My approach to waste policy is not dictated by any one facility or any one technology. Queries in relation to the proposed waste-to-energy plant at Poolbeg and related contractual issues are a matter for the parties to the contract.
I expect to be in a position to finalise proposals for Government in relation to household waste collection in the coming weeks. All policy proposals, including franchise-bidding will be carefully considered by Government and will take account of the full range of issues and perspectives, including our obligations under the Landfill Directive and the Waste Framework Directive, the impact on consumers and the industry of potential changes to market structures, competition issues and the matter of waivers for low income households.
