Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

The tax relief in respect of the waste collection charge is somewhat questionable. Virtually everybody is charged. I, therefore, wonder how beneficial it is. Would it be more productive or worthy to consider the introduction of a threshold below which relief would be available and above which it would not, or the subvention of families on very low incomes?

The number who do not need a bin at all is growing. If they have a reasonable income and some space outside the house, they can create a compost heap or bin and can bring their recyclables to the local civic amenity centre for proper and safe disposal, at a very low charge. The charge is usually a couple of euro in any of the centres I know. Given that those on higher incomes invariably have transport to achieve such a laudable environmental goal, the scheme for providing tax reliefs for those who pay bin charges should be skewed in favour of those on lower incomes who invariably do not have the space around their homes to create a compost heap and very often do not have transport to convey recyclables to a civic amenity centre. Very often, they do not have the space about their homes to store them. I have a major doubt about the usefulness of the scheme as it operates. There is a significant case to be made for taking a fresh look at it with a view to encouraging those on higher incomes to deal with their waste issues in a more environmentally responsible manner and obviate the need for a bin completely. I accept that the entire refuse service generally operates in a more environmentally friendly fashion in terms of the use of the brown bin, green bin, etc., but we could encourage people to move away from using the bins altogether. I accept that there are small quantities which must be disposed of, which is where use of the pay bag comes in. Certainly, that is how I operate. I try to avoid using the bins completely. Perhaps that is a method on which the Tánaiste might reflect.

See this speech in context