Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

If, as the Minister says, the waste collection service is a local service, will he amend the provisions of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003 which prescribe the manner in which charging is to be conducted and which, inter alia, removed the making of charges and waivers from the democratically elected members of local authorities?

Will the Minister address the significant costs now faced, particularly by low income families, in respect of waste charges? The likelihood is that if the Protection of the Environment Act 2003 remains in place, those costs will continue to rise. Can he explain why a pensioner can avail of free schemes for electricity, telephones and televisions but there is no corresponding relief for waste services?

Does the Minister agree, whatever he may say about it being a local service, given that two thirds of waste collection services are now in private hands and the legislation governing the waste service is national legislation that prescribes matters nationally that should be determined locally, there should be a national waiver scheme to provide assistance and relief for low income families?

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