Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)

A significant body of households are dependent on the refuse waiver in Dublin city at present but there is a wider policy dimension throughout the country in regard to refuse waivers per se because there are different policies in different electoral areas. It is high time we had a national policy in regard to the provision of refuse waivers. Clearly, the policy of the State is to withdraw itself from the refuse collection business and to subcontract it out to the private sector. That being the case, there is a pressing need in this regard. There is an overlap between the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Department of Social Protection in potentially devising a national policy for a national refuse waiver. With regard to Dublin, I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could use her good offices to find out and reply to me on what will be the position of the approximately 40,000 refuse waiver holders in Dublin.

The Minister of State said this is an issue for Dublin City Council, and I understand her point. However, there is a wider social issue in regard to the litter problem that exists in parts of Dublin. There are 18,000 households in Dublin which are at present not registered for refuse collection. The Minister of State might comment on where stands that issue. As I said, there are wider issues. We have the EU Presidency coming up and we want to put our best foot forward. Dublin is the capital of the country and a major tourism hub and destination. Image is very important in terms of tourism. When we have a significant number of households that are not registered for collection, where is the waste going? The answer is obvious. It is a significant issue of public interest. Dublin City Council management is not giving sufficient answers to the questions outlined. The Minister of State can say it is an issue for Dublin City Council but there is a wider public dimension to it, which is why it must be raised here.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me the opportunity to raise what is a very important issue for Dublin.

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