I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 24 together.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is currently conducting a study on the operation of the household waste collection market which it will complete in 2018.
I understand that the study 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. I have been informed that the study will include the following elements:
- research on current issues in the waste sector;
- an economic assessment of the household waste collection market;
- an overview of waste collection in other countries; and
- recommendations, based on the evidence collected, to address any systemic issues uncovered.
Separately, I also established a Household Waste Collection Price Monitoring Group (PMG) last year to monitor the rates charged by household waste collectors during the phasing out of flat rate fees. The PMG has met each month since September 2017 and has considered eight months of pricing data trends. The PMG has indicated that, in the vast majority of cases to date, prices have remained stable.
The results from the PMG in conjunction with the study being undertaken by the CCPC will provide an evidence base for future policy decisions in relation to the household waste market.