Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2024
173. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he plans to engage with local authorities to explore the possibility of local councils providing more public waste collection services, particularly in the context of private companies raising the price of bin collections for many households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6532/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities are responsible for municipal waste collection and waste management planning within their functional areas. It is open to the Chief Executive of any local authority to exercise their executive function in relation to waste collection to re-enter the waste collection market as direct service providers if they so choose, either alongside existing permitted service providers or subject to making arrangements to replace those providers.
Under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996 I am, as Minister, precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance by a local authority, in particular circumstances, of a statutory function vested in it.
