Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 May 2018
32. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission will report on the operation of the household waste collection market; her plans to publish the report; if publication can be brought forward as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22849/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPolicy responsibility for the waste sector lies with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. On 4 July 2017, a motion was passed by Dáil Éireann which called on the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to ask the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to report on the operation of the household waste collection market.
Following a formal request on 25 September from the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, the then Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, in accordance with section 10(4) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014, requested the CCPC to carry out a study on the operation of the household waste collection market.
The study will assess the household waste collection market and make recommendations, as appropriate. It will assess the nature and scale of consumer and operator issues in the household waste collection market and consider if the introduction of an enhanced regulatory regime could efficiently address these issues, in the short and long term. It will include the following elements:
1. Research on current issues in the waste sector.
2. An economic assessment of the household waste collection market.
3. An overview of waste collection in other countries.
I understand that the study is well advanced and that to date the CCPC has carried out an extensive series of interviews and meetings with approximately 20 key stakeholders in the waste market including those with a policy/enforcement role, consumer representative groups, academics, industry representative groups and individual household waste collection operators. The CCPC has also commissioned:
- consumer market research;
- engaged with other EU national competition agencies on how waste markets operate in their jurisdictions;
- sought extensive information from over 40 operators and commissioned an external econometric analysis of the data received; and
- conducted a public consultation exercise.
I understand that the CCPC anticipates that its report will be finalised over the summer. The issue of publication will be considered at that stage.
