Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

There is nothing coherent in the Minister's current position. As the Minister with responsibility for this area, I do not know how he can tell me with a straight face that the non-collection of waste from 18,000 households in Dublin city is not his problem. How can he so brazenly wash his hands of the issue? We are well aware that the service has been privatised but I feel strongly that was a mistake. The collection of rubbish is a core civic function of any local authority but nonetheless the decision to privatise it has been made. Faced with this absolute shambles, in many cases there has been no communication between Greyhound, Dublin City Council and citizens. Greyhound is now saying it will not collect waste from 18,000 households in the Dublin city area. It is utterly bizarre for the Minister to simply wash his hands and say it is not his problem.

The Minister knows full well that, no more than anyone else, I do not approve of illegal dumping. I am simply identifying it for the Minister as a current phenomenon and a real scourge in the city. Picture the scene if waste is not collected from 18,000 households - it is a recipe for grave public health and environmental issues. The Minister should step in and talk to Dublin City Council and to Greyhound. If he needs to knock heads together, he should do so because the buck stops with him. He cited a figure of 34,000 citizens on waivers, which is correct.

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