John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

The review referred to is the nationwide review of pay-by-use domestic waste collection charges in Ireland, prepared for the EPA by the Department of Geography, Trinity College, Dublin.

Waste management services have traditionally been provided at local level, with individual arrangements being locally determined and tailored to local circumstances. The present legal framework, as determined by the Oireachtas, reflects this.

In accordance with section 52 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, the determination of waste management charges and any associated waiver scheme are matters for the relevant local authority, where it acts as the service provider. Similarly, where a private operator provides the collection service, it is a matter for that operator to determine charges.

I recognise that significant regulatory issues have emerged as waste management services have rapidly evolved in recent years. These issues, which are the subject of formal public consultation, include the need to ensure that necessary public service criteria in the provision of services in particular areas or for specific households are properly reflected.

The existing regulatory framework requires modernisation. The identification of the changes necessary will be greatly assisted by the current OECD review of the public service, which includes a specific case study on waste management. This will be implemented in the context of the overall review of national waste management policy provided for in the programme for Government and now being initiated. In addition, the revised approach to the collection of household waste being taken by the Dublin local authorities will further inform the selection of the necessary measures to underpin sustainable waste collection services and infrastructure provision, whether delivered by the private or public sector. In this context the appropriate policy responses will be developed and elaborated.

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