Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister, Deputy Coveney, met representatives of the bin companies in Athlone last month following the public outcry and concern about huge increases in waste charges as a result of the introduction of the pay-by-weight system. There was a collective sigh of relief nationwide when the Minister said after the meeting in Athlone that waste charges would be frozen for 12 months, that people's waste charges would not increase and that he would take action if waste companies did not comply. One of the companies in question, Greyhound, is now giving two fingers to the Minister by requiring people to opt out of the pay-by-weight system. In other words, if people do not contact the company, they automatically go under the pay-by-weight system, which means an increase in their charges. Greyhound is also insisting that its customers have to take out new 12-month contracts from 1 August and have to pay by that date.

I will give an example. I was recently contacted by an old age pensioner from my constituency who receives €198.60 per week. In December of last year, she renewed her yearly contract with Greyhound for the 12-month period from 1 January to 31 December 2016. The annual charge was €59.99, with additional pay-per-lift payments to be made. This woman received a letter from Greyhound asking her to contact it and informing her that the mandatory pay-by-weight system was gone. When she contacted the company, she was told she would have to pay €140 per year, with this payment to be received by 1 August next. This is going to be the case even though her current contract has not yet expired. She will have to make a full payment by 1 August, or alternatively pay in two instalments of €70 each. Another person in the same situation contacted me by e-mail and asked me to call for Government intervention regarding the so-called price freeze that has been brought in. She said that after she phoned Greyhound to ensure her service charge, which was prepaid until December 2016, and her charge per lift would not change, she was contacted to say that there would be changes in those charges. Like thousands of customers of Greyhound, I would like to know in light of what I have said whether action is being taken. What action, if any, is the Minister proposing to take to address the situation at Greyhound?

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