Michael McCarthy (Labour)

There has been an increase of 108% in Cork. No one could have foreseen in the 1990s that charges would be so high today. I accept that charges were lower then because we had not got our act together in the waste management area. If the amendment is not accepted, there will be applications for waivers from those on low incomes who are not recipients of social welfare. Given the discretion of the manager and the further discretion granted in the Bill, he or she will be able to turn down a waiver application from someone in gainful employment on a low wage. The minute he or she enters employment details on a waiver application the application looks farcical because he or she may appear well enough off to pay the charge when that is not the case.

The waiver system should be mandatory because only county managers exercise this power. I am dubious about increasing their power and about legislation in recent years that has eroded the power of elected representatives.