Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

We have an increasingly sophisticated and effective waste management system. These services are progressively being funded by those who benefit most from them based on the pay by use principle. The charges reflect the actual cost of providing waste services in individual localities, and the Government has long recognised that the waiving of charges in certain limited circumstances may be appropriate. The Oireachtas has legislated to provide local authorities with the power to do so. Decisions of this nature are best made locally, but through the medium of social partnership process, consideration is being given to any necessary supplementary steps.

A number of issues have been raised, particularly by Deputy Stagg. Last night the Minister, Deputy Roche, said that when elected representatives agree on an estimate, they do so knowing the estimate is based on the charges set by the manager. Inherent in their acceptance of, voting for and agreeing to the estimate is the knowledge that they are accepting the charges that are being set. They therefore vote in the estimates. If the charges were not in place, the estimate would be very different. The Minister made the point that on the basis of the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council issue, those Labour and Fine Gael councillors were aware of the charges being levied, the income that would be derived and that they allowed the manager to proceed——

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