Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Martin for the question. This controversy has blown up quite recently, following the statutory instrument introduced by the former Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly. Obviously, what the Government seeks, and most Deputies would agree with this, is that people would take the opportunity to think more carefully about the way they deal with refuse and the disposal of waste. The theory and spirit of the legislation was that, as a result of examining what should be put into a black bin, less would be put into it on a pay-by-weight basis, which would mean a reduction in charges for people. In addition, there would be better use of the brown and green bins, as the case may be. In many cases, there are shortages in capacity for landfill and the less that goes to landfill the better.

In the last couple of days, people were very concerned that their bin charges would rise to a serious extent. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, met with the Irish waste management industry and the majority of those who supply waste services and he has announced a pay freeze, with the support of the waste management companies, for the next 12 months on the basis of the current pricing plans. That means no increase in what people have paid in respect of their last bill. During the second half of 2016, the Government and the waste industry are committed to an intensive public awareness and information campaign to promote the benefits of the pay-by-weight charging model and to support customers in understanding how they can change their waste management behaviour and manage their waste costs better under the pay-by-weight system. That is in everybody's interest as well as in the environmental interest.

No later than 1 January 2017 customers will receive a dual pricing bill listing the amount of waste they are disposing of, the costs under the current pricing system and details of what the comparative cost would be on a pay-by-weight charge. They will be given the option to transition, should they so choose, to pay-by-weight charging or to remain on their current pricing plan. People have an option here to reduce the amount of waste they put in the black bin. After the transitional 12 months, the operation of pay-by-weight in the wider waste market will be reviewed to inform decisions on the arrangements beyond 1 July 2017. Also, the Minister has confirmed the commitment of the waste industry to provide a full weight allowance for the 60,000 Health Service Executive, HSE, patients supplied with incontinence wear to reduce their waste charges and the Government's provision of a 50% exemption to the waste industry from the landfill levy in respect of such waste. This point was made last week.

These are the changes the Minister wants to bring in.

In respect of the issue raised by Deputy Micheál Martin, it is valid to look at the structure and the way the management of waste is dealt with. This issue needs to be looked at. The Minister for communications, climate change and natural resources, Deputy Naughten, will be dealing with it from now on and will be happy to examine it.

See this speech in context