Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)

I ask the Minister to clarify his intentions on competitive tendering. Does he intend to issue competitive tenders for waste collectors to become sole operators within the relevant local authority administrative areas? If that is the case, he needs to ensure the customer's interest is protected in terms of competition and service levels.

A number of operators provide waste collection services in my own county of Limerick but none of them will travel to certain parts of the county. If a company is licensed to be the sole operator, there are implications for price and service levels, particularly in rural areas. The Minister ought to give further consideration to the matter.

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