Dáil debates

Thursday, 8 March 2012

5:00 pm

Photo of Seán CroweSeán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he has finalised a regulatory impact analysis of domestic waste collection; and if he still aims to submit final proposals on regulation of this industry to Government by Easter this year. [13075/12]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce competitive tendering for household waste collection under which service providers would bid to provide waste collection services in a given area, for a given period of time and to a guaranteed level of service. A public consultation designed to inform the policy development process concluded in September 2011. A large number of responses were received from a broad spectrum of interests. As I said earlier, many people had differing opinions on how such matters should be dealt with in terms of policy. All of the responses are on the Department's website, www.environ.ie.

I met recently with representatives of the household waste collection industry, during which an economic analysis of many of the issues was presented to me. This research, in addition to the recently published National Waste Report 2010, will help inform the completion of the regulatory impact analysis in respect of household waste collection, which is now at an advanced stage. I expect to be in a position to submit final proposals to the Government by Easter this year.

Photo of Brian StanleyBrian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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The promised regulatory impact analysis was to be published by Easter. From what the Minister is saying, it seems it is soon due. There are problems with waste collection all over the city, but particularly in certain areas where rubbish is left scattered. We clearly need a service level agreement. Refuse collection companies are leaving rubbish uncollected. Black plastic bags are left in some areas, and shops are still selling bin tags. The waiver scheme has been abandoned even though, as I understand it, it was supposed to be retained for 12 months. How will that aspect knit with the proposed national waiver scheme contained in the programme for Government?

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I hope to include as part of the national policy an obligation for a waiver for low income families. That has worked well in many local authorities. It has been an expensive provision for local authorities in the past but, nevertheless, it is a valuable policy instrument to assist people, particularly those on low incomes and in receipt of social welfare benefit, to ensure they are able to comply with the waste regulations.

A good deal of work has been carried out and the Deputy will be aware of the submissions that have been made. Local authorities have found this to be a very expensive system to operate. It has been largely privatised now but it must be properly regulated and, under the new waste policy, we will seek to regulate the waste industry properly and ensure that people get a service in every part of the country - there are many parts of the country where people do not have a service - at affordable rates in a competitive environment.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Is it still the intention to move towards a system whereby there would be tendering on an area-wide basis rather the choice which consumers have at present? It would be very uncompetitive to do that and would ultimately cost the consumer more and remove choice from consumers.

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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It is interesting that the Competition Authority, which had strong views on this issue some years ago, appears to have changed its mind recently. It is now indicating that the existing collection system is more competitive and consumer friendly than it previously thought. It is amazing that such an august body as the Competition Authority can change its mind on these matters. Taking that into account, which it would expect me to do, the issue of franchise bidding and the household collection system is still in the programme for Government but, equally, I am looking at enforcing the existing system better through a stronger permit system as well. All these issues are on the table to ensure we have a competitive system that gives good consumer choice and deals with the obligations on citizens to ensure their waste is collected.