Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Policy responsibility for the waste sector lies with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. On 4 July 2017, a motion was passed by Dáil Éireann that called on the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to ask the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, to report on the operation of the household waste collection market. Following a formal request on 25 September from the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, the then Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, in accordance with section 10(4) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014, requested the CCPC to carry out a study on the operation of the household waste collection market. The study will assess the household waste collection market and make recommendations, as appropriate. It will assess the nature and scale of consumer and operator issues in the household waste collection market and consider if the introduction of an enhanced regulatory regime could efficiently address these issues in the short and long term. It will include the following elements: research on current issues in the waste sector, an economic assessment of the household waste collection market and an overview of waste collection in other countries. I understand this exercise is still under way and it is anticipated that the report will be finalised over the coming months. The issue of publication will be considered at that stage.

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